Twelve-year-old Jocelyn Davison is alive today because an MRI scan detected a rapidly growing tumour in her brain.
But getting access to this often life-saving magnetic resonance imaging technology can be difficult.
Many patients must wait weeks to see a specialist for a referral while others, like Jocelyn, undergo unnecessary CAT (Computed Axial Tomography) scans which expose the patient to ionising radiation.
The government is hoping to combat these problem by standardising access to MRIs, federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon told reporters at Sydney's Westmead Children's Hospital on Monday.
"(The measures) ensure people can get access to the right type of scan for the right condition that they are suffering," Ms Roxon said.
The changes will make it easier for children, in particular, to get referrals quickly from their GP, and more MRI machines will be available to undertake scans, with a Medicare rebate, for common conditions in adults like breast and rectal cancer, Ms Roxon said.
The president of the Radiology College of Australia, Matthew Andrews, said the measures mean children like Jocelyn would be spared unnecessary CT scans.
"Someone like Jocelyn, who presents with a clinical problem, will be able to have an MRI scan first up," Dr Andrews said.
"In many, many cases (patients) won't need the CT scan, which involves ionising radiation, particularly the paediatric population will be spared that step."
It will cost just over $100 million to implement the new measures.
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