Let's proceed carefully on codeine: Ley

Any decision to make codeine available by prescription only needs to balance the needs of patients with those who abuse it, the federal health minister says.

Sussan Ley's comments come as a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia shows codeine-related deaths more than doubled in Australia between 2000 and 2009.

As authorities look into whether codeine products should be prescription-only, Ms Ley told ABC radio it's a difficult issue and she'd like feedback on it.