PBS restrictions on GP-administered buprenorphine could leave patients with ‘nowhere to go’
As drugs like buprenorphine are brought under the PBS, GPs who administer them directly will be forced to stop.
An impending ban on GPs administering long-acting buprenorphine as a private script will risk vulnerable patients falling through the cracks, says GP and addiction expert Dr Simon Holliday.
From July, patients on opioid dependence treatments will face out-of-pocket costs of $30 a month, rather than $5-$15 a day, as the drugs are added to the PBS’ section 100 — Highly Specialised Drugs Program (Community Access).
But as part of changes, GPs who have been ordering treatments directly from manufacturers to administer at their practice will have to stop from 30 November.
This approach was “not appropriate for the purpose of opioid dependence treatment reforms”, a Department of Health and Aged Care spokesperson said.
