It costs $230 out-of-pocket to see a dermatologist. Many Australians go without – despite soaring skin cancer rates

The most recent available data estimates almost 810,000 Australians over 15 didn’t see a specialist, such as a dermatologist, when they needed to because of cost Photograph: Sam Mooy/AAPView image in fullscreenThe most recent available data estimates almost 810,000 Australians over 15 didn’t see a specialist, such as a dermatologist, when they needed to because of cost Photograph: Sam Mooy/AAPHealthIt costs $230 out-of-pocket to see a dermatologist. Many Australians go without – despite soaring skin cancer rates Exclusive: Report shows cost of first appointment rose $20 in one year, with steeper rises in Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Melissa Davey Medical editorSat 25 Apr 2026 16.00 EDTLast modified on Sat 25 Apr 2026 21.39 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GooglePatients are increasingly going without medically necessary dermatological care, the head of the Consumers Health Forum says, as a new report reveals the rising cost of the specialty in Australia.Dermatology is expensive and getting pricier, with an average first visit now costing an adult patient without concessions $230 out of pocket, while follow-up appointments cost almost $190, the report from health directory Cleanbill found.$1,000 for a one-hour appointment: why are fees for Australia’s specialist doctors skyrocketing?Read moreCleanbill collected information on the pricing, services and locations of Australia’s dermatology clinics in 2024 and again in late 2025.The results, published on Sunday and based on data from 322 clinics, show that the cost of a first appointment rose nationwide by an average of almost $18 in one year, and follow-up appointments by almost $20.Rises were steeper in smaller states, including Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania.Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email“Specialist care is becoming something you have to budget for, plan for, and in too many cases, go without,” the CEO of the Consumers Health Forum, Dr Elizabeth Deveny, said. “That is especially true for dermatology, where ongoing care is often not optional; it is medically necessary. “The gap between what Medicare covers and what specialists charge has been widening for years. People feel it every time they get a bill. No one should have to weigh up whether they can afford to follow up on a skin cancer check.”Dermatology is a small workforce, with just under 700 specialist dermatologists and about 130 trainees nationally, while demand for their services is rising, in part driven by high skin cancer rates. Psychiatry, by comparison, has 6,500 qualified psychiatrists and more than 2,500 trainees.Many in the profession are also being driven to more lucrative cosmetic work performed outside Medicare, leaving fewer specialists available for essential treatment as waiting lists grow longer and out-of-pocket costs rise.There are also limited trainee places, which are government funded. According to the Australasian College of Dermatologists, the number of training positions is constrained by funding and capacity within public hospitals and public outpatient clinics, which the college says remain under‑resourced relative to demand.The chief executive of Cleanbill, James Gillespie, said while some repeat patients may have arrangements with their specialist that see them being charged lower fees, these arrangements are not usually available to…

This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at the Guardian.