The peak body representing Australia’s private pathology industry, Australian Pathology, reports that the inclusion of Reproductive Carrier Screening to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) in November 2023 has been a major success. Read the media release here.

Dr. Shaun Donovan, CEO Diagnostic Services at Hobart Pathology officially commenced his role as Australian Pathology President on Monday 18 August. Dr. Donovan has served on the Australian Pathology board for the past 4 years, first as a Director and most recently as Vice President. 

As part of his first weeks as President, he joined our CEO, Liesel Wett on Friday 29 August to visit the Capital Pathology laboratory in Deakin, where they filmed an introductory video together [You can watch this here].  

In addition to his leadership responsibilities, Dr. Donovan is a practicing histopathologist and he describes his day-to-day work as “looking down the microscope and diagnosing people’s cancers.” 

“We’ve got a lot planned for the next 12 months. Most importantly, we’ll be working closely with the Federal Government and the Department of Health to ensure Australians continue to have affordable and easy access to pathology. I’m also eager to see new tests introduced to the Medicare schedule to further improve patients’ access to pathology and diagnosis”, Says Dr. Donovan  

“We’re excited to have Dr. Donovan step into the role of President. His clinical perspective as a histopathologist is a great strength to our work. Together, we look forward to continuing to work with the Government to deliver better pathology services for all Australians”, says Ms Wett.

Since February 2024, Australian Pathology has been leading a campaign to Keep Pathology Bulk Billed.

More than 111,100 Australians have participated in the campaign by sending an email to their local political representatives.

Bulk billed pathology is under threat because:

• Funding for pathology has been frozen since 1999;
• Only one third of pathology items are being indexed from 1 July 2025;
• Funding for vitamin B12 and urine tests is being cut to the tune of $356 million, also from 1 July this year.

Throughout the election campaign, we called on the government to reverse the cuts, and increase the funding. Unfortunately, no such commitment has been made, which means that out of pocket costs to patients are becoming imminent.

This is too important – so we are not giving up!

We will continue to campaign until the future of pathology bulk billing is secure for all Australians.

Thank you to all our supporters. Thank you for emailing your MP, for sharing our message, and for supporting our campaign.

If you have not already participated in the campaign, please register below for updates and … watch this space!

keeppathologybulkbilled.com.au

Liesel Wett

CEO, Australian Pathology

Australian Pathology has released the following statement in response to claims made in an ABC article, and repeated by Stephen Duckett, relating to pathology testing during the pandemic.