More than 20 million sick days each year are taken by Australian workers suffering from stress-related illnesses, costing the Australian economy $14.8 billion annually, according to research from Medicare 24/7 Health Advice Line (MHAL).

Severe stress in the workplace is hindering 85 per cent of working Australians and 15 per cent of affected employees are taking at least one sick day a month

Absenteeism is unfortunately not the only stress-related preventable cost to the Australian economy, with presenteeism costing more than $25 billion annually.

More than 300 pieces of advanced medical equipment have already been purchased for the $2 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH).

The installation of major medical equipment, including high-tech imaging equipment and a powerful x-ray system for cardiology and vascular procedures, was a significant milestone in the clinical commissioning program of FSH, Western Australia's Health Minister Dr Kim Hames said in an October 8 statement.

Be Medicinewise Week, which is running from October 14 to 20 this year, is a national campaign organised by National Prescribing Service MedicineWise (NPS).

Focusing on Australia's aging population, the campaign aims to give older Australians the tools and information they need to make better decisions about their medicines and health.

With population aging becoming a major global trend, senior issues are becoming a focus for an increasingly dominant number of Australians.

The new Perth South Coastal Medicare Local opened its doors in Pinjarra last week.

After Medicare executives noticed many Pinjarra residents were travelling to the Mandurah office to take advantage of the health services offered there, the new centre was proposed to meet local need.

"There is no doubt that Pinjarra is a growing area and there is an increased need for health services," said Perth South Coastal Medicare Local chief executive Paul Hersey.

Australians with private health insurance are being encouraged to research the costs of medical procedures before committing to a hospital or health care centre.

A report released by Private Healthcare Australia (PHA) has revealed large price differences in identical procedures in hospitals across the nation.

For example, the PHA data showed that the cost of a same day colonoscopy can range from around $1,200 to more than $1,900.

Mental health in the workplace is in the spotlight this month as National Mental Health Week (NMHW) approaches.

Running from Sunday 6 to Sunday 13 October, NMHW occurs each year in addition to World Mental Health Day, which is held on 10 October.

This year, the Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) released new research addressing the issue of mental health discrimination in the workplace.

TAFE provider Holmesglen has partnered with Healthscope to convert a conference centre into a private hospital on Holmesglen's Moorabbin campus in Melbourne.

Private health company Healthscope is planning to spend $100 million on building the new hospital, while Holmesglen's contribution will equal $20 million. This includes providing the land and existing building to be converted.

Ongoing increases to family health insurance premiums are outstripping inflation, encumbering those households already struggling with rising living costs.

Across Australia, the average increase in hospital cover was 6.4 per cent, while extras cover rose by 3.3. per cent.

NSW was hit the hardest in the recent rise in premiums, with hospital cover climbing by 7.32 per cent and extras up by by 3.64 per cent.

In Australia, heart disease is a leading health problem and cause of death.

According to the Heart Foundation, it kills 59 people all over the country each and every day. That equates to about one person every 24 minutes.

Sunday (September 29) is World Heart Day - a time for people to spare a thought for heart disease and the 1.4 million Australians that are currently affected by the illness.

It's also a great time to get some exercise, says the Heart Foundation.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) recently published a report about what happens to older patients when they are discharged from hospital.

AIHW is a government initiative that provides facts and figures about health and wellbeing in Australia.

The report, titled 'Movement Between Hospital and Residential Aged Care 2008-09,' reveals that of those patients who are aged 65 years or older, the majority are able to return home following hospital treatment. This is opposed to being discharged to a residential care facility.