“Doctor shoppers”: at risk by any other name

To the Editor: I write to share my concerns about the “doctor shoppers” in our community.1 The large medical group in which I practice has long been tormented by the demands of a constant stream of drug addicts, and I feel that we have now lost a very useful tool for dealing with these patients.

I refer to the loss of access to the “Doctor Shopping Hotline”. This has resulted in increased aggravation for both staff and doctors. The problem is compounded by our practice being open at weekends and public holidays, when these patients arrive with the familiar story of not being able to get their benzodiazepines and opiates because their own doctors are not available.

The Health Insurance Commission recently notified me about a patient who had attended our surgery, and many others, during a 3-month period last year. During this time, he saw more than 30 doctors and was prescribed more than 300 Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) items (6000 benzodiazepines and more than 2000 opiates [Panadeine Forte]).

I strongly feel that the hotline should be reinstated — for the benefit of the doctors and the patients, and to help reduce a totally unwarranted drain on the PBS.