Less red tape over GP scripts

HEALTH Minister Peter Dutton will go to the Australian Medical Association conference with a commitment to reduce red tape for doctors.

Co-payment explained.

HEALTH Minister Peter Dutton will go to the Australian Medical Association conference today with a commitment to reduce red tape for doctors, as the controversy over planned co-payments continues.

As foreshadowed in the budget, the government will reconsider the extra level of authority required to prescribe 450 medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, separate to the Coalition’s commitment to fast-track PBS listings.

Doctors currently have to get approval from the Department of Human Services to prescribe the medicines and can include only one authority item on a script.

“There are occasions when the authority system is important to ensure that patients are only given medicines that are safe and appropriate,’’ Mr Dutton said. “But there are many other instances where the authority system is an unnecessary step.”

The review — to be undertaken in consultation with the AMA and other medical groups — will be done in stages, with the first group of medicines, including some cancer drugs, to be considered at a meeting of the pharmaceutical benefits advisory committee in July.

The AMA is holding its national conference in Canberra and Mr Dutton is keynote speaker today, followed by opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King.

Doctors have started a social media campaign against co-payments, while some are also concerned about the lack of attention for preventive care, and the states are protesting against the government’s decision to scale back public hospital funding.