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PBAC to consider ADHD drugs’ initiation requirements
It will discuss proposed changes to PBS listings for atomoxetine and guanfacine, including to reduce specialist-only requirements.
The proportion of adults being treated for ADHD has increased more than sixfold in less than a decade.
A reduction in specialist-only initiation requirements is being considered for two attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications, atomoxetine and guanfacine.
At its September meeting, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) will advise on proposed amendments to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listings of the drugs.
This includes whether it will recommend permitting subsidised use in patients who have ‘tolerated but not adequately responded to’ stimulant therapy.
It will also hand down its decision on broadening prescriber eligibility beyond specialist-only initiation requirements.
RACGP Specific Interests ADHD Chair Associate Professor John Kramer welcomed the PBAC consideration.
‘GPs can prescribe these drugs if they’ve been initiated by a non-GP specialist – I write plenty of prescriptions for these drugs, but someone else has had to start them,’ he told newsGP.
‘This way, if the GP feels that their patient will benefit from that, they can just go ahead and do it.
‘We’ve been agitating about this very issue for some years, so it’s finally migrated up to the top of the list.’
The PBAC’s incoming decision comes as patients across Australia face months-long waitlists for ADHD care, with the proportion of adults being treated for the disorder increasing more than sixfold in less than a decade.
A recent analysis found 2.36% of Australian adults were taking ADHD medicines in 2025, up from 0.35% in 2016–17.
Hundreds of GPs have now undergone training to initiate ADHD treatments as demand for care surges.
The South Australian Government became the latest to expand its training, announcing on Thursday that it will support 100 additional GPs to complete specialised training to assess, diagnose, treat and prescribe for the condition.
Associate Professor Kramer said expanded equity to atomoxetine and guanfacine is crucial, with many patients currently unable to afford some treatments.
‘They are currently not on the PBS, so patients who don’t have much money, they have to pay,’ he said.
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ADHD atomoxetine attention deficit hyperactivity disorder guanfacine PBAC PBS Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee
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