Health ministers endorse need to align ADHD rules

Australia’s health ministers have endorsed the need for ‘national harmonisation’ of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and prescribing practices, at a meeting held in Perth on Friday.
 
The move comes after GPs and ADHD professionals put forward a united voice to state, territory and federal health ministers, calling for nationally consistent ADHD reforms in general practice.
 
It also follows a long and concerted effort by the profession to support a broadened role for GPs in ADHD management – a move which will help patients and families avoid delays in accessing non-GP specialist care while easing pressure on Australia’s already-stretched healthcare system.
 
Ahead of this week’s Health Ministers’ Meeting, the RACGP, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA) issued a joint letter urging ministers to allow GPs to use their full training and expertise to diagnose and treat ADHD.
 
This included a 30 June 2026 target for setting nationally consistent prescribing rules to enable GPs to initiate, change and continue ADHD medications for adults and children.
 
Health ministers were also asked to align criteria – such as age limits and review periods – as well as to commit funding for GP training, mentorship and tools, as has been done in New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia (WA).
 
The three groups stressed that GPs are highly trained specialists who can accurately and safely diagnose ADHD and prescribe medications responsibly, backed by strong clinical guidelines, established training frameworks, embedded safeguards, and clear referral pathways for complex cases.
 
Following the meeting, health ministers announced their support for national harmonisation as well as acknowledging the advocacy work of the RACGP, ACRRM and AADPA ‘for better access to quality ADHD care’.
 
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright described the proposal to health ministers as a ‘commonsense pathway’.
 
‘The college is trying to make sure the skills and expertise of GPs are better recognised, and that we are enabled to diagnose and treat our patients with ADHD, no matter where they live,’ he told newsGP.
 
‘We are also keen to ensure the rollout [of reforms] across the country is consistent and doesn't create more confusion for GPs and our patients, and that the changes enable us to continue to provide access to high quality care for our patients.
 
‘We’ve presented a commonsense pathway for making sure this happens.’
 
Harmonising ADHD prescribing rules was made a key priority at a meeting of health ministers in June, along with improving access to diagnosis, affordability and patient care.
 
While several states and territories have committed to their own reforms, the inconsistency in rules across the country is apparent, leaving patients with mixed access to care.
 
GPs in NSW were recently granted the right to continue medication for ADHD patients, with training available to diagnose and prescribe by the end of this year.
 
In South Australia and WA, GPs will be able to diagnose and prescribe medication for ADHD in both adults and kids in 2026 after undertaking additional training.
 
Queensland GPs have been able to diagnose and prescribe medication for children aged 4–18 since 2017, with steps currently being considered to expand this to adults.
 
Meanwhile, the Australian Capital Territory Government has committed to expand the role of GPs in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, and is working towards a pilot program expected to begin early next year.
 
Both major parties in Tasmania have made a commitment to reform ADHD arrangements; however, other states and territories are yet to announce plans.
 
This lack of uniformity is of particular concern to rural doctors whose patients can face lengthy delays waiting for care.
 
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says patient access shouldn’t be determined by where they live, nor should they endure care challenges when moving state to state.
 
‘We need a national move to harmonise the laws that determine how ADHD is managed by GPs and Rural Generalists,’ he said.
 
‘The lower access to diagnosis and treatment for ADHD in rural and remote Australia reflects both the reduced access to non-GP specialists outside capital cities and the difference Rural Generalists and rural GPs trained in ADHD can make to that access.
 
‘Whether a GP can provide care for a patient with ADHD is determined more by which side of a border they’re on than that GP’s training or experience in ADHD care.
 
‘That inconsistency serves no one and further reduces health outcomes for rural, remote, and First Nations communities.’
 
Representing ADHD professionals, AADPA President Professor David Coghill said this week’s minsters’ meeting was an opportunity for health ministers to find agreement on consistent rules that deliver ‘timely, accurate and evidence-based ADHD assessment, diagnosis and treatment’.
 
‘When GPs have the right tools, appropriate training and support, they can provide safe and appropriate care for both children and adults,’ he said.
 
‘Making non-complex ADHD care available through GPs will increase access to care, reduce inequality and costs, and improve the lives of Australians.’
 
The health ministers noted they had previously commissioned work, in consultation with key stakeholders, to develop nationally consistent rules and will deliver a progress report at the next meeting.
 
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