Week 43 Health Digital Marketing Newsletter

This week’s Digital Health Observer covers the TGA warning telehealth providers that promoting waitlists for unapproved oral GLP-1 weight-loss medicines could breach advertising laws, with penalties of up to $18.2 million per offence. NSW Health has recorded 1,180 emergency department presentations linked to unapproved peptides marketed on social media, with monthly cases jumping from five to 217. A separate TGA review found eight of 12 AI scribes, from a pool including Heidi Health, Lyrebird Health and Microsoft Dragon Medical One, likely meet the medical device definition, yet none of the suppliers had identified their product as one. Plus NAB Health finds 85% of Australians now see a GP but 16% have switched practices out of dissatisfaction, and the AIHW more than doubles its migraine estimate to 3.9 million Australians, with around 2.5 million potentially undiagnosed.

TGA Warns Telehealth Providers Over Weight-Loss Pill Waitlists

The TGA has warned that telehealth providers promoting waitlists for unapproved oral GLP-1 medicines could breach Australian advertising laws. Penalties reach $18.2 million per offence. Read more →

Peptide-Linked ED Visits in NSW Jump From Five a Month to 217

NSW Health recorded 1,180 emergency department presentations linked to unapproved peptides between July 2025 and September 2026, rising from five a month to 217. NSW Health says the products are marketed through social media for weight loss, injury repair and anti-ageing. Read more →

NAB Health: 85% of Australians Now See a GP, but 16% Have Switched

NAB Health’s 2026-27 Insights Report found GP use rose from 78% in 2022 to 85%, and almost 70% were bulk billed at their last visit. GPs scored lowest on making patients feel listened to, and 16% had switched GPs in the past two to three years due to dissatisfaction. Read more →

TGA Finds Eight of 12 AI Scribes Likely Count as Medical Devices

A TGA review of 12 digital scribes, including Heidi Health, Lyrebird Health and Microsoft Dragon Medical One, found eight have functions likely to meet the medical device definition. None of the suppliers had identified their product as a medical device, and the TGA did not name which eight. Read more →

AIHW Now Estimates 3.9 Million Australians Live With Migraine

The AIHW revised its migraine estimate from 1.7 million to 3.9 million Australians, about one in seven, after changing how prevalence is measured. Almost two-thirds, around 2.5 million people, may be undiagnosed. Read more →