Thursday, 17 September 2026
AHPRA peptide prescribing scrutiny, Sex-specific heart attack criteria, Victoria issues mpox alert
- 01
AHPRA tightens oversight of off-label and peptide prescribing
AHPRA has issued guidance for prescribing off-label or unapproved medicines and medicines intended for compounding amid concerns about high-volume, single-treatment business models and growing demand for peptides. The guidance covers therapeutic need, shared decision-making, informed consent and documentation, supported by case studies involving off-label prescribing in aged care and unapproved peptides promoted for anti-ageing and muscle repair. AHPRA said patient demand alone does not justify prescribing and warned it may investigate practitioners with high prescribing or compounding rates even without a complaint. The regulator also flagged unusual prescribing patterns and inappropriate advertising as red flags that could prompt direct action or referral to other agencies. It will shortly release conflict-of-interest guidance and information for patients about what to expect from telehealth.
via RACGP newsGP
- 02
Global heart attack definition adds sex-specific diagnostic criteria
The Fifth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction has introduced clearer, sex-specific diagnostic criteria and replaced the previous five-type numerical system with three clinical categories: primary, secondary and procedure-related myocardial infarction. The definition classifies spontaneous coronary artery dissection, coronary artery spasm and coronary embolism—causes more common in women—as primary myocardial infarction alongside atherosclerotic plaque rupture and blood clots. It also incorporates high-sensitivity, sex-specific cardiac troponin reference values, reflecting lower normal troponin levels in women than men. Developed jointly by international cardiovascular organisations, the revision aims to improve recognition and diagnosis of heart attack causes that disproportionately affect women. The Heart Foundation said the troponin thresholds align with its Australian acute coronary syndromes guideline published last year.
via RACGP newsGP
- 03
Victoria issues mpox alert as national cases exceed 2025 total
Victoria has reported 52 mpox cases since 1 August, while Australia’s 2026 total has reached 240, exceeding the 228 cases recorded during all of 2025. Men who have sex with men and their sexual partners remain most at risk in Australia, particularly people with multiple or casual sexual partners, although anyone exposed can become infected. Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Dr Caroline McElnay urged clinicians to test sexually active patients with compatible symptoms regardless of sexual orientation, vaccination status or travel history. She said vaccinated people may develop milder or atypical symptoms and advised clinicians to offer free vaccination to eligible people at increased risk, check whether they have received two doses and provide a second dose if due. Patients with suspected mpox are advised to cover rashes or lesions, limit close contact while awaiting results and wear a mask when attending a medical centre.
via RACGP newsGP
- 04
Medibank expands to 169 clinics, targets seven million GP consultations
Medibank expanded its national primary care footprint to 169 GP and medical clinics after acquiring Better Medical for more than $163 million, and is targeting seven million annual GP consultations by FY28. Its health services revenue rose almost 31% to $634.8 million in FY26, while primary care revenue increased 29.6% to $316.5 million and consultation numbers grew 26.7%. Medibank delivered 4.1 million GP consultations during the year, up from 3.2 million, and aims to lift the virtual share from 21.7% to about 30% by FY28. The company said AI documentation tools had reached 80% uptake in its Virtual GP service and reduced administrative time by three to four minutes per 15-minute consultation. Medibank Health segment profit increased 31.3% to $100.7 million as the insurer also expanded home-based, community and virtual care services.
- 05
Fee publication laws pass, capturing GPs and other specialists
Legislation allowing the government to publish fees for individual doctors, including GPs, has passed, clearing the way to automate listings on the Medical Costs Finder website. The updated site would display typical specialist fees, Medicare benefits, applicable insurer rebates and low, typical and high estimates of patient out-of-pocket payments. The government will use billing data it already collects, backed by a $7 million investment in technical capability, while doctors will have a free-text field to provide context about their fees. Launched in 2022 at a cost of $24 million, the voluntary site currently lists fees from 106 doctors. Senate amendments included provisions governing information use and requests from doctors to correct, update, alter or remove information.
- 06
US measles-related death toll reaches highest level since 1992
Pennsylvania reported two additional measles-related deaths amid an outbreak involving 693 cases across 38 counties. The deaths involved a 40-year-old woman and an 18-year-old, bringing the US total this year to four, the highest annual number since 1992. US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr disputed the role of measles in the first two reported deaths. The CDC had not registered any measles-related deaths for 2026 at the time of publication and said it would report deaths once the National Center for Health Statistics identified measles as the underlying cause using state-submitted death records.
MDDR is a news digest for medical professionals. It is not medical advice and should not be relied on for clinical decision-making.