A Senate committee has recommended the federal government urgently increase funding for research into tick-borne disease in Australia and get to work on finding a treatment.
Thousands of Australians claim to be suffering from tick-borne Lyme disease, but medical authorities insist it's not possible to contract the disease in Australia.
After a long-running inquiry into the existence of tick-borne disease in Australia, the committee's report tabled on Wednesday recommends government medical authorities establish a clinical trial to determine a treatment protocol for patients.
It also recommends the Council of Australian Governments health council develop a national approach to addressing tick-borne illness.
The inquiry received more than 1200 submissions, many from people whose lives have been devastated by Lyme-like illness.
Their stories were similar, marked by suicidal thoughts, dismissive doctors and chronic fatigue syndrome.
The committee also tabled its report following an inquiry into bullying and harassment in the medical profession, recommending universities adopt compulsory education on the issue.
It recommends hospitals review their codes of conduct to ensure they specify that bullying and harassment in the workplace are not tolerated.
It also recommends a new inquiry be established to look into whether the existing complaints process is adequate.
