A newly announced inquiry by the National Health and Medical Research Council will cut short the Queensland government’s review of puberty blocker prescriptions.
Health Minister Mark Butler has announced a nationwide review of best practices for trans and gender diverse youth following the Liberal Queensland government’s decision to halt prescription of puberty blockers.
In a statement on Friday, Mr Butler said the National Health and Medical Research Council would begin a review into the “contested and evolving” way state and territory health systems treat young Australians seeking care for gender dysphoria, developing its own national guidelines in the process.
He said taking the decision out of the hands of state governments would provide a “precious” and vulnerable demographic with the “paramount focus” of nation-leading experts.
It means the recently announced Queensland review of gender health practices for youth patients will be stalled, in favour of the NHMRC inquiry which intends to give advice on the prescription of puberty blockers by the middle of 2026.
“I’ve indicated to (Queensland Health) Minister (Tim) Nicholls that I don’t think it would be appropriate for Queensland to continue with their stated intention to undertake an evidence review in this area of care,” Mr Butler said at a press conference on Friday.
“These issues should be nationally consistent and in my view should be driven by the pre-eminent authority which is the NHMRC. The Queensland government has indicated its intention to undertake a second inquiry, particularly in relation to its state health service in Cairns and that obviously is another matter. That is a matter for the Queensland government.”
On Tuesday, Mr Nicholls announced the review into puberty after a whistleblower reported the Cairns Sexual Health Service had treated 42 patients, aged between 12 and 18, outside of best practice guidelines.
“Much of the evidence that’s been published about this has only been published in recent years, and it’s contested. That is what the NHMRC said to me,” Mr Butler said.
“Their advice was this is a contested and evolving space. Also, it is important that clinicians working in this area have indicated to government that they think these guidelines should be updated.”
On Wednesday, More than 100 prominent Australians, including doctors of the field, accused Australian politicians and the medical community of ignoring and of even undermining the findings of international reviews.
Britain’s 2024 Cass review found its guidance to allow children to change gender had been “built on shaky foundations” and led to British health authorities banning the routine prescription of puberty blockers.
Counterparts through the European Union are currently investigating whether to follow suit, tightening regulations in the process.
Currently the state and territory health systems are informed by the Royal Children’s Hospitals Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for trans and gender diverse children and adolescents. It was first published in 2018 and has not received NHMRC approval.
Mr Butler said he first made inquiries to the NHMRC two weeks ago.
“The NHMRC is the nation’s leading expert body in health and medical research and has a statutory responsibility for developing and supporting high quality guidelines for clinical practice,” he said in his statement.
“It is imperative there is community confidence that Australian children, adolescents and their families are receiving the most appropriate care.
“It is important that this process is driven by evidence and is conducted by our most eminent medical researchers and clinicians, engaging with Australians with lived experience.”
by James Dowling
Source: The Australian
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