WA’s Labor Party, which is expected to win the upcoming state election, has pledged that GPs will be given the power to diagnose and prescribe for ADHD.
GPs in Western Australia may soon be allowed to diagnose and prescribe for ADHD in children and adults, but ongoing drug shortages may still pose a challenge.
WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson announced last week that a re-elected Labor government would trial allowing GPs with additional training in ADHD to diagnose and initiate medication in patients, so long as they receive peer support from a specialist paediatrician or psychiatrist.
Under the current rules, an ADHD diagnosis can only come from a paediatrician or psychiatrist.
GPs cannot initiate stimulant medicines, but can co-prescribe with a non-GP specialist who reviews the patients every 12 months.
Current polling points toward a clear Labor victory for the 8 March election.
Labor also pledged $1.2 million for support agency ADHD WA and another $1.3 million to add psychiatry to the “GP Ask” trial.
“WA’s [ADHD] regulations are some of the most restrictive and out of date and we know so much more about ADHD than we did 20 years ago,” Ms Sanderson said.
“With the right training, GPs are well placed to diagnose and manage ADHD where there is diagnostic certainty, and this announcement will empower them to better support their patients.”
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RACGP WA chair Dr Ramya Raman was supportive, calling the proposal the “culmination of extensive discussions and work by GPs and the WA government”.
“Patients deserve ongoing access to care through their specialist GP, who knows them and their history,” Dr Raman said.
“This proposal can enable that for people living with ADHD.”
The election pledge comes as manufacturing issues continue to plague the supply of modified-release methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets (Concerta, Janssen-Cilag and Methylphenidate-Teva XR, Teva Pharma Australia), one of the three first-line pharmacological treatments for ADHD.
There are currently shortages of all four strengths across both brands expected to continue until at least May 2025.
Immediate-release tablets and modified-release capsules remain available.
In January, the TGA approved temporary supply of Swiss formulations of Concerta extended-release tablets under a Section 19A approval.
The temporary supply is not PBS-subsidised.
