GPs blast Medicare approval 'red tape'

The Federal Government is being urged to cut the 'red tape' that requires doctors to seek Medicare approval to prescribe certain drugs.

Under the current regulations, GPs need approval for more than 400 medications, including some common cancer therapies and pain-killers.

Zelle Hodge from the Queensland branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) says that is not necessary for repeat prescriptions.

"There has been an estimate that 1.3 million patient consultations every year, the equivalent of that is being taken up on GPs spending time on the phone," she said.