Tuesday, 22 September 2026
PBS tacrolimus for eczema, Andrographis loses low-risk status, Unusually late influenza rise
- 01
PBS to list tacrolimus ointment for eczema from 1 October
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment will be listed on the PBS from 1 October for eligible patients aged 16 years and over with eczema. More than 143,000 Australians annually are expected to benefit, with a single prescription currently costing more than $54 without subsidy. RACGP dermatologist Dr Anneliese Willems said tacrolimus would not replace first-line topical corticosteroids but would fill a treatment gap for sensitive areas such as the face and eyelids. She said patients commonly experience slight burning or stinging when first using the ointment.
via RACGP newsGP
- 02
TGA removes andrographis from low-risk listed medicines pathway
Andrographis will no longer qualify for Australia’s low-risk listed medicines pathway after continuing reports of severe allergic reactions and a fatal case. The TGA’s decision changes the regulatory status of the herbal ingredient in Australia. The source gives limited detail about the reported reactions, death or implementation of the change.
- 03
Australian influenza activity rises unusually late into spring
Influenza activity in Australia continued to rise into early September after remaining low through May, June and July, suggesting the 2026 season may only now be approaching its peak. The Australian Centre for Disease Control surveillance data showed an unusually late pattern also seen in New Zealand and Fiji, while South Africa and South America recorded typical winter peaks. Australia had recorded 154,342 confirmed influenza cases by 18 September, compared with 393,941 by the end of September 2025. Vaccination coverage was 30.2%, up slightly from 30% last year but below the 37–38% recorded in 2022. Professor Patrick Reading said this year’s vaccine was a good match for most circulating viruses, but low coverage had left a sizeable susceptible population.
- 04
Missed symptoms and long waits delay dementia diagnoses
Missed symptoms and long waits are slowing dementia diagnoses, according to the AIHW’s Living with Dementia Survey of 266 people with dementia and 1648 carers. Delays in testing and specialist review were the most commonly cited barrier at 22%, followed by GP misattribution of symptoms at 18% and the high cost of health appointments. Around 61% of people living with dementia received a diagnosis within three years of first noticing symptoms, while more than a quarter waited over a year before seeking professional advice. More than three in five respondents said diagnosis helped them understand their symptoms, and more than half said it supported planning, decision-making and access to support. More than 80% of primary carers reported providing at least 40 hours of care each week, with many lacking time for self-care or social activities.
via RACGP newsGP
- 05
Senate recommends national epilepsy plan and stronger GP training
A Senate inquiry recommended a National Epilepsy Action Plan after finding that variable GP confidence and capability contributed to delayed or incorrect epilepsy diagnoses. The Senate Community Affairs References Committee made 27 recommendations following 356 submissions and seven public hearings, and proposed that the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing lead implementation. Proposed measures included GP education on focal seizures, pregnancy-related anti-seizure medication risks and sensitive discussions about sudden unexplained death in epilepsy. The committee also called for a national workforce plan, funded epilepsy nurse and navigator roles, clearer care and referral pathways, and more equitable access to neuroimaging. Regional access remained a key concern, with only 4.1% of neurologists serving Australians outside major cities and epilepsy hospitalisations 2.1 times more frequent in remote and very remote areas than in major cities.
- 06
Ageing and chronic disease set to reshape Australian general practice
Deaths are projected to outnumber births in Australia by the 2060s as population ageing and chronic disease reshape healthcare, according to the 2026 Intergenerational Report. The population aged 85 and older is forecast to triple from 625,000 to 1.9 million by 2065–66, while the birthrate is expected to fall to 1.34 children per woman. RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said GPs were already providing increasingly complex care and argued that general practice funding must increase. The report said digital technologies, including AI, could automate up to 30% of healthcare tasks and reduce administrative and workforce pressures. Regional communities are projected to age faster than capital cities and may struggle to find healthcare and aged care workers.
via RACGP newsGP
MDDR is a news digest for medical professionals. It is not medical advice and should not be relied on for clinical decision-making.