Experts raise concerns about Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s rapid antigen testing decision

The PM’s decision on rapid antigen tests has been welcomed but experts say the “horse has bolted” and Australia is now facing issues due to the slow response.

Australians will no longer have to line up for a PCR test if they first test positive on a rapid antigen test but experts say the “horse has bolted” and the Prime Minister’s delayed decision now raises other problems.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday that Aussies who test positive on a rapid antigen test will no longer be required to follow it up with a PCR test.

Many Australians have found it difficult to source the antigen tests, also known as RATs, or have been paying high prices, with some claiming retailers are driving up demand by holding back supplies.

Melbourne University epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely described the shortage of tests as “the biggest policy failure” in Australia since the pandemic began.

Prof Blakely believes the true infection numbers in NSW would be around 200,000 cases, which makes it too difficult to track the outbreak.

He said experts and state premiers had been warning the Federal Government about the potential for test shortages for at least six months.

“The horse has bolted,” he told Sunrise.

“It seems somebody forgot to order or arrange private market supply of rapid antigen tests so we won’t get the surveillance right at least until the next wave.

“But we also haven’t thought about how you can load up that data to the surveillance system so we won’t get that in place in the next couple of weeks either.”

A large queue of people lining up for rapid antigen tests outside a Hawthorn East pharmacy. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Going forward, Prof Blakely believes rapid antigen tests sold in Australia should have a QR code on them for people to scan when they test positive.

“Given where we are now, where we shouldn’t be because of policy failure – but I thought

the decisions yesterday were good – in fact they were the only decisions they could make.”

The Australian Medical Association NSW also believes a QR code should be provided on antigen tests to make it easier for authorities to track positive cases.

AMA NSW president Michael Bonning said Australia should follow the lead in other countries where people can inform authorities of a positive result using a QR code.

He said the organisation was supportive overall of the switch to rapid antigen tests but more supply was needed.

“We need more rapid antigen tests in the community so that people can be making good choices about activity, but also detecting disease early so that then they can stay away from others,” he told Today.

‘Tests should be free for everyone’

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday announced rapid antigen tests will be free for more than six million Australians, while also warning there would be heavy penalties for price gouging.

Anyone who holds a Commonwealth seniors health card, healthcare card, low income card, pension concession cards, DVA Gold card or a DVA white card will now be able to get 10 free tests over three months.

But the AMA’s national organisation believes the tests should be available to everyone for free. Its view is supported by the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA).

The organisations argue the tests are a health product, not just a typical consumer product, with the overwhelming demand inflating their price beyond what many people can afford.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced antigen tests would be free for some Australians. Picture: Gary Ramage/NCA NewsWire

PHAA chief executive officer Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin said the tests were an essential tool for communicable disease control.

“Everyone has the right to access RATs, not just those who can afford it, nor the insatiable desires of retailers who have the unusually close ear of government,” he said.

“We didn’t let the market decide the price for Covid-19 vaccines, and we must not let it determine RAT prices.”

AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid said, “The benefits of these tests – like wearing a mask and washing your hands – are for others in the community, not just the person taking the test.”

Given the soaring case numbers, Dr Khorshid said Australia was running out of time to support people to do the right thing.

“There’s no time for piecemeal measures, like targeted subsidies which might be difficult to implement,” Dr Khorshid said.

“We need to harness the goodwill in the community to use RAT kits and free access for everybody.

“Health care workers, including GPs and their staff, need urgent priority access to RAT kits in order to keep working and providing health care to the public.”

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese on Wednesday changed tack and is now calling on the Morrison government to make the tests free through Medicare.

But the Prime Minister is resisting pressure, announcing instead the kits would be subsidised in some instances.

Originally published as Experts raise concerns about Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s rapid antigen testing decision