26 Mar 2026
AMA President’s Update: CAS Meeting, Rural Health, Primary Care and Public Health Advocacy
Hello and happy Friday! It’s been a big week for the AMA, starting with our Colleges, Associations and Societies (CAS) meeting on Monday, where over 100 medical leaders discussed key issues affecting Australia’s healthcare system.
25 Mar 2026
AMA Highlights Urgent Action Needed on Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarettes
Federal AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen recently attended the Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarettes Commissioner (ITEC) Symposium in Canberra, where experts and officials discussed urgent measures to tackle Australia’s illicit tobacco market.
25 Mar 2026
AMA CAS Meeting Focuses on Prevention, Innovation and Medical Workforce
More than 100 medical leaders gathered in Canberra on Monday for the AMA’s annual Colleges, Associations and Societies (CAS) meeting to discuss key issues facing Australia’s healthcare system.
25 Mar 2026
AMA Calls for Action on Online Gambling After 1000 Days of Inaction
This week marks 1000 days since the Peta Murphy report recommended stronger action on online gambling advertising, but the federal government has yet to act. The AMA has released a statement urging immediate implementation of the report’s recommendations.
17 Mar 2026
Referral Changes Must Protect Coordinated Patient Care
The AMA has made a submission to a government consultation on updating referral pathways, stressing that any changes should improve—not weaken—coordinated patient care.
17 Mar 2026
Study Finds Limited Evidence for Medicinal Cannabis in Mental Health
A major new study published in The Lancet Psychiatry has found no strong evidence that medicinal cannabis is effective in treating anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
13 Mar 2026
Public Hospital Report Card 2026 Highlights Ongoing Challenges
The 2026 Public Hospital Report Card shows that Australia’s public hospitals continue to face major pressures, despite some small improvements.
13 Mar 2026
AMA calls for improved healthcare for women and girls
This week, the AMA marked International Women’s Day by highlighting the need for women and girls in Australia to have better access to safe, affordable, and culturally sensitive healthcare.
13 Mar 2026
Government drops eye injection MBS changes after AMA raises patient cost concerns
The federal government has announced it will not go ahead with proposed changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for some intravitreal eye injection (IVI) services.
06 Mar 2026
Private Hospital Groups Back AMA Call for Minimum Health Insurance Payouts
Peak private hospital bodies have backed the Australian Medical Association’s call for private health insurers to return a minimum of 90 per cent of premiums to consumers as benefits.