As the coronavirus outbreak continues to escalate amid personal protective equipment shortages and indecorous scuffles over rolls of dunny paper, we find ourselves asking a simple question. If now is not the time for the Australian government to finally drop its intransigence and introduce an MBS item number for GP telehealth, then when is?

Doctors' groups have been calling for the capability for years, particularly for housebound patients and those in residential aged care, but so far GPs have only been allowed to claim for remote consultations under very limited circumstances. This week, Australia's chief medical officer Brendan Murphy finally admitted that the government had listened and was considering the option, telling a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday that it was also considering the possibility of allowing video consults with elderly patients and those with chronic diseases who would prefer not to venture out at the moment.