お知らせ • May 30
Optimi Health Corp. Welcomes Expanded Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Access Under Updated Authorized Prescriber Framework in Australia
Optimi Health Corp. acknowledged the final recommendations published by the Therapeutic Goods Administration following its targeted consultation on the Authorized Prescriber scheme for psilocybin and MDMA. Under the AP scheme, authorized psychiatrists may prescribe Optimi's MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression from the Company's GMP-compliant production facility in Canada, making Australia the first country in the world to recognize, and regulate, both substances as medicines for these indications. The updated framework, published following stakeholder consultation that closed on May 19, 2026, introduces material changes to how psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is delivered in Australia. The changes are designed to expand the eligible workforce, open new categories of treatment setting, and accelerate scaling of Australia's commercial program, which remains the leading reference point globally for prescribed psilocybin and MDMA care. Under the updated framework, the therapy dyad must include at least one therapist registered with a National Board and the AP psychiatrist is required to be physically present on-site during administration of the medicine and to conduct real-time patient screening and informed consent. The second practitioner in the dosing room may be drawn from the wider pool of suitably trained professionals, including psychotherapists, counsellors, social workers, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers. The AP psychiatrist is responsible for determining qualifications and competency of any additional practitioner, subject to oversight by the relevant Human Research Ethics Committee. Australia's training ecosystem supports the Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, delivered by Mind Medicine Australia, which has trained more than 750 clinicians. The program is accredited under Australian Medical CPD Standards, recognized by HRECs and the TGA, and offers 127+ CPD hours, clinical experience pathways, and a national alumni network. This change opens the door to genuinely multidisciplinary therapy teams. The TGA noted that the broader composition will support workforce capacity in rural and regional Australia, address shortages, and improve culturally appropriate care. The TGA has confirmed that PAT can be delivered in any medically supervised environment that meets defined safety standards. Sites must provide secure Schedule 8 storage, trained staff and equipment for clinical care and resuscitation, immediate access to rescue medications, robust documentation, and a location within 15 minutes of an accredited healthcare facility with an emergency department. This represents a meaningful shift from prior assumptions that day hospital or inpatient settings were required, and aligns with stakeholder feedback that less clinical, more therapeutic environments often improve patient comfort and outcomes. Aggregated data obtained from the TGA confirm that no serious adverse events have been reported under the AP scheme since December 2025. Every AP psychiatrist is required to report patient numbers and any serious adverse events to the relevant Human Research Ethics Committee, the TGA, and the applicable state health department, providing a structured real-world safety surveillance framework. Adverse event and outcome data are also being collected by the Australian Interventional Pharmacotherapy and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy Research Registry hosted by the Australian National University. This clean safety profile, accumulated under regulated commercial conditions rather than a clinical trial environment, supports the case for continued program expansion. Coverage for psychedelic-assisted therapy in Australia is no longer confined to private pay and now spans both sides of the funding system. Public coverage includes the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and WorkCover schemes. Private coverage includes Medibank, Australia's largest private health insurer. The combination of an expanded prescriber and therapist workforce, broader site eligibility, and growing reimbursement across public and private payers creates a credible employment pathway for trained practitioners and an addressable patient population for commercial supply.