PBS abruptly restricts GP prescribing of kids’ asthma inhaler

The PBS website only flagged the changes the day they came into effect.
Rachel Fieldhouse
Professor Nick Zwar.

GPs say they have been blindsided by new PBS rules on initiating the asthma preventer fluticasone propionate in young children without non-GP specialist input.

Since 1 April, only respiratory physicians or paediatricians have been allowed to initiate PBS scripts for Axotide Junior and Flixotide Junior — fluticasone propionate 50µg per actuation inhalation, 120 actuations — in patients under six.