A recent RACGP visit to NSW parliament has returned productive results for reform progression.
NSW pollies recently received a visit from the RACGP; and whilst a confidential checkup and discussion on general health was part of the day’s agenda, furthering discourse on health reforms was the RACGP’s priority.
The college brought four key points to the table for discussion on reform with an overall expansion of scope and greater rural funding.
- Expanding access to influenza, meningococcal B and RSV vaccines along with free MenB vaccinations for infants and teens and free RSV vaccines for over-50s.
- Focusing on doctor retention for remote communities via the funding of locums to cover GPs in the remote NSW to ensure workload sustainability.
- Allowing the prescription of oral isotretinoin by GPs for severe acne so patients can access care, while alleviating pressure on dermatologists
- Introducing greater supports for GPs during natural disasters in recognition of general practice as a key service in providing physical and mental health care during crises.
These topics have reportedly been received well by NSW parliament, along with further reforms also brought up by MPs to the college.
“They really wanted to talk about ADHD and wanted to know if we could do that faster,” RACGP NSW and ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman told The Medical Republic.
“There’s definitely an appetite to help us and to move things along and to try and expedite processes, which is really nice as well.”
As of reporting, no official dates have been set to enact said reforms, however the RACGP has stated that reform discussions are progressing at a pleasing rate.
Talks on expansion of scope were also productive. Another meeting set has been set with Health Minister Ryan Park at an undisclosed date to address scope of practice issues.
One area that the RACGP has been looking to expand its scope of practice in has been the prescription of the acne medication, Roaccutane.
“That’s come down to a federal scheduling legislation on the poison schedule, so nationally, the poison schedule says that only a dermatologist is able to prescribe Roaccutane, and that’s absolutely ridiculous,” Dr Hoffman told TMR.
“I think once that poison schedule has been changed, we have a really good backing and support that the New South Wales legislation will quickly follow as well.
“We’re just now waiting for the scheduling meeting, which happens in November at a federal level.
“Hopefully March next year will then mean we can meet back with the New South Wales legislation writers and then say, great, let’s make these final changes.”
Another highlight of the meeting was a breakdown of the disconnect between GPs and MPs.
“I think that having these conversations with anybody will absolutely mean that that’s one more person that has a bit more information,” Dr Hoffman told TMR.
“When we’re talking to parliamentarians, they’re those people that then can have information to make decisions that might make meaningful change, so that’s exactly why we go and do these events.”
