Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Lack of progress on diagnostics target due to data limitations; no new quantitative goal.
Recommendation
The 2019–24 NAP had a target to be able, by 2024, to report on the percentage of prescriptions supported by a diagnostic test or decision support tool. However, this was not achieved due to continuing limitations with data, including diagnostic test results not being recorded digitally, as well as a lack of a central diagnostics data source. There is no quantitative target on diagnostics in the 2024–29 NAP.60 However, there is a commitment to improve support for clinical decision making in order to reduce avoidable use of antimicrobials, including through “adequate availability” of diagnostic tests.61
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 18 September 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗