Date: February 2024
The RACGP has provided feedback on the Medicines repurposing program that the Department Health and Aged Care is implementing.
In principle, the RACGP supports the proposed initiative, which aligns with feedback provided in our submission to the review of the National Medicines Policy.
The RACGP recommends:
- applications for drug repurposing also be accepted from clinician peak-bodies.
- evidence for effectiveness should come from systematic reviews of the literature, rather than simply individual industry-sponsored trials
- safety of the medication needs to be established in any new patient group, and a broader list of outcomes be considered in addition to clinical outcomes
Read the submission
RACGP response on the Medicines repurposing program (PDF)