Doctors and pharmacists are urging the federal government not to end a scheme providing free rapid antigen tests to vulnerable groups as Australians are warned to brace for rising COVID cases through winter.
The Federal Health Minister Mark Butler on Tuesday confirmed the program, which was introduced by the Morrison government in January, would not be extended beyond July arguing it is "about the right time" for it to end.
Under the scheme, concession card holders including those with a Pensioner Concession Card, Low Income Health Care Card, and Seniors Card, have been able to access up to 10 free rapid tests over three months from participating community pharmacies.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia said terminating the program would deter some people from testing.
"If we cease to provide this program vulnerable people who would otherwise have been able to access free rapid antigen tests will no longer be able to do so," President Dr Fei Sim said.
"That really is sending the wrong message to the public about the importance of testing.
Dr Sim said community pharmacies have supplied more than 58 million RATs to about 5.6 million patients since the program started and ending it in a fortnight would be premature.
"We're actually just about to enter another surge of COVID-19 and what we need to do now is actually encourage more testing rather than less testing," she said.
Defending the decision, Mr Butler said RATs supply shortages experienced earlier this year have ended and the price of individual tests have reduced significantly since the omicron wave which swept across the country in summer.
"The price has come down dramatically," Mr Butler told Melbourne's 3AW radio on Tuesday.
"They were running on average at $24 or $25 per test if you could get them in January, they're now down around about $8 a test."
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners also criticised the decision, arguing while the cost of RATs have decreased since the program was first implemented, for many low-income earners the price is still prohibitive.
"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," RACGP President Karen Price said.
The Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston said the government was defying the advice of peak health groups and called on Mr Butler to explain the rationale for the decision.
"To end this program, at a time when we are seeing a massive increase in the number of COVID cases and cost of living pressures are seriously impacting Australians, appears premature," Senator Ruston said.
"Whilst these measures were not intended to be permanent, Mr Butler must outline what expert advice has formed the basis of his decision to end this program.
Senator Ruston also questioned the government's recent decision to end a range of telehealth services last month, and scrap pandemic leave payments for people unable to work while isolating.
"The pattern of behaviour in the Albanese government's health response to COVID is worrying," she said.
"They have already cut 70 Telehealth services, cut the pandemic leave disaster payments to the most vulnerable workers, and now cut access to free rapid antigen testing for concession card holders.
The government has the power to extend the program but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the decision and blamed the end date on the former government.
"We inherited a range of positions from the former government and we also inherited a trillion dollars of debt and I would encourage concession card holders to go and get their 10 free rapid antigen tests that they are eligible for by the end of this month," he told ABC Radio.
"There is still a lot of time to go and do that."
