Australian psychiatrists push for Medicare to subsidise ketamine for treatment-resistant depression

Application for subsidy follows results of a groundbreaking study into severe depression

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Researchers supported by Australia’s peak body for psychiatrists have applied to have ketamine treatments for depression subsidised by Medicare, following the results of a trial which found a low-cost version of the drug can treat severe depression.

Currently, S-ketamine nasal spray is sometimes prescribed in Australia for treatment-resistant depression, but it costs approximately $800 per dose, and combined with the consultation cost, patients can pay around $1,150 for treatment.

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