Every three months, Suzanne Grobke makes an eight-hour round-trip to access the ADHD medicine that her 12-year-old daughter requires. Her daughter, diagnosed with ADHD at age three, relies on a pediatrician in Sydney due to the two-year wait to see someone regionally. The daughter experiences severe symptoms, including suicidal thoughts and self-harm, and is on anxiety meds, anti-psychotics, sleeping meds, and Ritalin. Grobke suggests that if their GP in New South Wales could prescribe Ritalin alongside her daughter’s other medications, it would significantly ease their burden. This highlights the broader issue of difficulties in accessing specialists in regional areas, leading the Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners to call for more medicines, like those for ADHD, to be prescribed by GPs across Australia. The inconsistencies in the current system result in higher medical costs and confusion for patients and doctors, particularly in jurisdictions with long wait times for ADHD assessments. Doctor Tim Jones, a specialist based in Tasmania, emphasizes the need for collaborative solutions and universal rules around ADHD prescribing to alleviate the strain on the medical system and improve support for families. This call for reform is supported by a 2023 Senate inquiry into ADHD in Australia, which recommended nationally consistent rules for medication prescriptions, but the federal government has yet to commit to such reforms. For Grobke, easier access to medication would mean less time off work, lower expenses, and improved local medical support for her daughter. This underscores the essential nature of the medication and the need for local support. Additionally, it highlights the wider issue of access to medical care and mental health support, emphasizing the importance of timely and equitable healthcare for all, regardless of location.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/19/adhd-medicine-australia-gp-prescriptions