The Victorian government will offer free emergency top-up prescriptions for people with ADHD who can’t access their regular doctor.
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan has announced free ADHD top-up prescriptions through the state’s virtual emergency department.
Under the scheme, people with an existing ADHD diagnosis who urgently need a repeat prescription will be able to access a free telehealth consultation if they cannot see their regular GP.
Doctors will verify a patient’s current medication and dosage before issuing a prescription directly to a local pharmacy.
The one-off refill will cover at least 30 days and up to six months.
The change follows a separate $750,000 investment announced this week to train GPs to diagnose and prescribe ADHD medication for adults and children.
Both measures will come into effect in September.
Allan said the reforms were designed to prevent families being caught without medication, citing cases where children had been kept home from school after running out of prescriptions.
Health minister Mary-Anne Thomas said missing daily ADHD medication could have serious consequences and that the virtual emergency department would help fill gaps in access across the state.
