Hi, it's health reporter Lauren Roberts back with your weekly update.

Most people associate semaglutide — commonly sold as Ozempic or Wegovy — with weight loss.

But it can also slow the progression of kidney disease in people with some chronic conditions.

A new analysis published this week found people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease who took semaglutide once a week had improved kidney function and survival rates. Even if they had a history of heart attacks, strokes or heart failure.

Of course, more research is still needed.

But it begs the question: how does a drug developed to help people with type 2 diabetes and popularised as a weight-loss therapy help slow the progression of kidney disease?

And sadly, people like Sam Stubbs, who has Down syndrome, continue to receive substandard healthcare in Australia. 

Sam's parents were asked about his "quality of life" by medical staff who were treating him for a lung infection. 

Sam's story comes at a time when a program that sees people with intellectual disabilities train medical students and mid-career professionals, may be forced to close as its funding ends.

Also this week, AstraZeneca has announced it will pull a critical breast cancer and endometriosis drug from Australian shelves from November.

Patients have labelled the decision "cruel" and say they have been blindsided.

Read on for more health stories and podcasts.

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Research shows semaglutide — commonly sold as Ozempic or Wegovy — can improve kidney function and survival rates for people with some chronic diseases, even if they have heart issues.

Sam Stubbs’s parents were asked about his quality of life while treating him for a lung infection. They realised it was because he was born with Down syndrome. 

Sarah Taylor is one of about 1,200 Australians urgently waiting for a life-saving stem cell transplant. Advocates say Australia's registry is "ridiculously small" compared to other nations.

Patients have been left frustrated and scared after learning that a life-saving breast cancer and endometriosis drug is to be pulled from shelves in Australia and some other countries.

The federal government will not impose border restrictions on travellers from Ebola-stricken countries despite new suspected cases in Italy and Brazil.

Winter is here and with it comes the increased risk of mould in homes, particularly in colder parts of the country. But there are simple ways to keep to it at bay.

A new trial shows some everyday steps people can take to protect themselves against depression. The Health Report takes a look at the evidence.