Thursday, 27 August 2026
New GP accreditation standards, Teplizumab PBS listing rejected, US nod for pancreatic cancer drug
- 01
RACGP accreditation standards expand focus on patients, AI and sustainability
Following clarification of eligibility for non-traditional services, the RACGP released sixth-edition accreditation standards with stronger emphasis on person-centred care, shared decision-making and consumer engagement. The outcomes-focused framework also covered digital health, data governance, artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability, privacy and confidentiality, and distinguished practice requirements from individual clinician responsibilities. The edition comprised four standards—foundations of general practice, clinical governance, patient participation and continuous quality improvement—plus an optional point-of-care testing standard. The expanded definition of general practice introduced in 2024 remained in place, with eligibility criteria included in the new standards. All practices undergoing accreditation will need to meet the sixth edition after a transition period, with timing and transition requirements to be communicated by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
via RACGP newsGP · also covered by The Medical Republic
- 02
PBAC rejects PBS listing for type 1 diabetes therapy
The PBAC recommended against listing teplizumab on the PBS for patients aged eight years or older with Stage 2 type 1 diabetes, citing uncertain cost-effectiveness at the price sought. The 14-day infusion therapy targets the immune attack that causes type 1 diabetes and delays progression to Stage 3 disease by an average of two years. Although the committee recognised the benefit of additional time without symptomatic disease, insulin treatment and blood glucose management, it found limited evidence to support claimed long-term benefits after progression to Stage 3. The TGA approved teplizumab in May, but it is not currently available on private prescription in Australia. Manufacturer Sanofi is reviewing the PBAC feedback and will decide on the timing of any resubmission.
via RACGP newsGP
- 03
FDA approves Rasonque for previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer
Following its compassionate-use rollout, the US Food and Drug Administration approved daraxonrasib as Rasonque for patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who have received one previous treatment and are ineligible for multiagent therapy. The clearance came just over a month after Revolution Medicines completed its submission, using a voucher that accelerated the review. In a Phase 3 trial, patients receiving Rasonque had median survival of 13.2 months, compared with 6.7 months with standard chemotherapy. Common side effects included rash, diarrhoea, mouth inflammation, nausea and fatigue. European regulators are evaluating the therapy through a phased review.
via BioPharma Dive
- 04
NSW scales back November digital patient record rollout
NSW Health has abandoned plans to roll out its $2 billion Single Digital Patient Record across four local health districts simultaneously in November, after executives concluded the workload would be too great. Northern Beaches Hospital will be the only Tranche B site to proceed that month, while revised dates for Northern Sydney, Central Coast, Mid North Coast and Northern NSW remain unsettled. Existing system architecture means Northern Sydney must go live with Central Coast, while Mid North Coast is similarly linked with Northern NSW; management considered deploying both pairs at once too burdensome. Executives are developing options for the revised schedule after successive go-lives and post-implementation support placed heavy demands on staff. Northern Sydney indicated it would prefer to deploy with Central Coast around March 2027, but no decision has been made.
- 05
Clinician views of My Health Record diagnostic reports surge
Clinician views of diagnostic imaging reports in My Health Record increased by 866% between May 2023 and August 2026, while pathology report views rose by 642%, according to Australian Digital Health Agency figures. The growth followed the announcement of the Share by Default strategy, with reforms requiring healthcare providers to upload written pathology and diagnostic imaging reports by default taking effect on 1 July 2026. Consultation is underway on the next phase, expected to include medicine-related information next year. The agency said clinicians can access My Health Record through the National Provider Portal, compatible clinical information systems or the Healthcare Information Provider Service, which supports around half of all clinical views. Legacy HIPS implementations must upgrade to the latest version by late 2027.
- 06
FDA authorises Abbott continuous glucose and ketone sensor
The FDA has authorised Abbott’s Libre Duo 10 Day sensor to continuously measure glucose and ketones in people with diabetes aged two years and older who use insulin or other glucose-lowering medicines. The 10-day wearable tracks rising ketones and alerts users when levels reach a concerning threshold, with the aim of preventing diabetic ketoacidosis. The FDA reviewed six clinical studies involving more than 600 people, which showed the sensor tracked clinically meaningful differences in ketone levels and detected elevated ketones before diabetic ketoacidosis developed. The device meets standards allowing it to pair with automated insulin delivery systems, with compatibility with two systems expected by the end of the year and further integrations planned for 2027. Abbott plans to launch Libre Duo 10 Day in the US later this year, but has not disclosed pricing or insurance coverage details.
via MedTech Dive
MDDR is a news digest for medical professionals. It is not medical advice and should not be relied on for clinical decision-making.