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Australia produced its first vaccine:
Australia produced its first vaccine in 1917 for smallpox, which was declared officially eradicated 63 years later. Diabetics began treatment with insulin and the world’s first electronic heart pacemaker was invented in Australia. -
First medicine that was introduced:
The first medicine that was inroduced was Insulin. Before the discovery of insulin, diabetes was a feared disease that most certainly led to death. Doctors knew that sugar worsened the condition of diabetic patients and that the most effective treatment was to put the patients on very strict diets where sugar intake was kept to a minimum. At best, this treatment could buy patients a few extra years, but it never saved them. In some cases, the harsh diets even caused patients to die of starvation -
Treatment for Diabettes
Banting, Macleod, Best and Collip invented the process for insulin in 1922 which became the treatment for diabettes -
Vaccinations for whooping cough was introduced:
Vaccinations for whooping cough and tetanus were introduced to Australia in 1925. -
Vaccinantion for diphtheria was introduced
Vaccination for diphtheria (respiratory infection of the tonsils, throat, nose) was introduced to Australia. Diphtheria caused more deaths in Australia than any other contagious disease. By 1993 the last case of diphtheria had been reported. -
Anti-cancer medicine was introduced:
Bristol-Myers (pharmaceutical company) began operations in Australia. By the 1960s it introduced its first anti-cancer medicine The company is now known as Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia and in the 1990s introduced the first medicine to treat HIV/AIDS. -
The Drug and Perfumery Manufactures Association was introduced
The Drug and Perfumery Manufacturers Association (DPMA) was established. It is now known as Medicines Australia, the industry association for The Australian Medicines Industry. -
Influenza A virus was first introduced
Influenza A virus was first isolated by Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet. His subsequent work on influenza led to a collaboration with Dr WIB Beveridge with whom he invented a technique for cultivating viruses in chicken eggs. This process led to the development of the first flu vaccine. -
The Pharaceutical Benefits Scheme was published:
The Australian Government established the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to provide medicines free of charge to all Australians. By 1950, Australians had access to 139 free medicines. -
World's first human testing for leukaemia was conducted:
The world’s first human testing (clinical trial) in children with leukaemia was conducted in Melbourne by paediatrician Dr John Colebatch. The successful use of chemotherapy inspired research still conducted today. Now around 75 per cent of children with leukaemia can be successfully treated. -
First Open Heart Surgery:
For surgeons it was difficult to repair a human heart and it seemed impossible until C Walton Lillehei or even known as "Father of Open Heart Sugary" but in his days he had a controversial personality due to his style of open heart surgery. -
First kidney transplan for twins:
Joseph Murray performs the first human kidney transplant (on identical twins) in 1954. -
First Heart Transplant:
On December 3, 1967, South African surgeon Christian Barnard conducted the first ever heart transplant on a 53 year old.
