Clinicians and pharmacists criticise government over changes to RAT program

MedTech News: The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) have criticised the Federal Government’s announcement that the COVID-19 Rapid Test Concessional Access Program would not be extended beyond July 2022.

National President Dr Fei Sim said that this move not only puts vulnerable Australians at risk, but also sends the wrong message to the public.

“PSA is very concerned about the Federal Government’s plan to cease concessional access to Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) at the end of the month. It sends the wrong message to the public,” she said.

“The pandemic is not over, and the threat of serious illness is still there for many vulnerable people in our communities. Testing remains a vital part of our COVID-19 response.

“While recognising that our approach to test-trace-isolate has changed since the program was launched in January, testing with even mild symptoms remains an expectation of everyone in the community.

“With most states and territories adopting advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) to move from a 3-month to a 28-day immunity period, access to testing will be vital, especially for vulnerable groups who’ve relied on the concessional program.

“Let’s not forget that case numbers and hospitalisations are still rising every single day. Governments should be encouraging more testing, not less.

RACGP President Adj. Professor Karen Price said “This is particularly important for people with high risk factors such as underlying health conditions, those facing situations where the risk of transmission is high, and patients who can’t be vaccinated. We can’t just have healthcare available to those who can afford it, accessibility for vulnerable groups on low incomes is vital.  

“We must keep in mind that $8 is a considerable expense for many people, and that some of us have jobs that involve regularly coming into close contact with many different people during the day. When you factor in that someone may have to take multiple tests over numerous days you can see how it quickly becomes unaffordable. With COVID-19 case numbers climbing across Australia and limited PCR testing available, it is critical to ensure as many people as possible can access RATs when they need to.

“If people can’t access RATs, our entire health system will come under even more immense pressure. In order to access pathways of clinical care for COVID-19 in the community, including recently expanded antiviral treatments, it is necessary to have a positive test. Determining whether an individual is COVID-19-positive also helps to stop the spread of the disease in workplaces and in the broader community. Remember too, if someone is uncertain as to whether they have COVID-19, their close contacts are at greater risk of spreading the virus.

Dr Sim added “We also call on the Federal Government to restore funding to the COVID-19 Home Medicines Service, allowing COVID-positive patients to safely access the medicines they need from home.”