GPs Encouraged to Reflect on COPD Prescribing with New Personalised Reports
27 Jul 2026
The reports are designed to support self-reflection and help doctors compare their prescribing patterns with current best-practice recommendations.
Using PBS data from 2025, each report provides an overview of a GP's COPD medicine dispensing and compares it with other doctors working in similar geographic areas. The information is intended to help identify opportunities to improve care and better align treatment with national clinical guidelines.
Recent national data showed a sharp increase in the use of triple therapy inhalers over the past several years. While these medicines are appropriate for some people with COPD, respiratory health experts warn they should only be prescribed when clinically indicated, as unnecessary use of inhaled corticosteroids can increase the risk of pneumonia and other long-term side effects.
The reports also highlight the importance of confirming a COPD diagnosis with spirometry before starting long-term treatment. Following the stepwise treatment approach outlined in the COPD Clinical Care Standard can help ensure patients receive the most appropriate therapy for their condition.
The ACSQHC has emphasised that the reports are private, are not used to assess GP performance, and can be used as part of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities.
GPs Encouraged to Reflect on COPD Prescribing with New Personalised Reports
Source: RACGP newsGP