Pharmacists to prescribe and treat despite doctor opposition

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The Queensland Government will go ahead with its controversial plan to let pharmacists diagnose and prescribe for more diseases, despite continuing opposition from doctors.

Health Minister, Yvette D’ath, said the North Queensland Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot has been finalised and will commence in the second half of 2023.

The plan was a Queensland Labor election promise in 2020, touted as a low-risk way of addressing rural GP shortages and long wait times for appointments.

The announcement started a major fight with medical profession lobby groups, forcing the Government to water down some of the plan’s original measures.

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Pharmacists will be able to administer more types of vaccines and prescribe medicines for common conditions like nausea, reflux, rhinitis, and certain types of pain.

They’ll also be able to offer services like hormonal contraception, oral health screening, weight management, and quitting smoking.

Management of chronic diseases is included, with cardiovascular disease risk reduction, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the list.

It’s understood pharmacists will be able to charge about $50 for a consultation.

Health Minister, Yvette D’Ath, said the pilot program will improve access to primary health care services many people currently find difficult to access

“Pharmacists participating in the pilot will undergo additional training to ensure they are able to safely manage the included conditions and responsibilities.

 “Participating pharmacies must also have suitable consulting spaces that provide patient privacy.

 “Pharmacy prescribing models of care have been used effectively in other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand,” the Minister said.

That claim of success overseas has been hotly contested by many of the groups opposed to the pilot, including the Australian Medical Association, the College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization.

Earlier this year, the RACGP accused the Pharmacy Guild of Australia of manipulating the GP shortage for the commercial benefit of its member pharmacies.

Then RACGP president, Karen Price, said the pilot was a solution to a problem that did not exist.

“While there is no doubt a need for more GPs in parts of Australia, including North Queensland, suggesting that this gap can be supplemented by pharmacists is naïve, dangerous, and not supported by any available evidence.

“Undoubtedly, there is a conflict of interest to drive higher drug sales, which is not in the spirit of the Commonwealth Government’s medicines policy.

“This policy protects patients by separating prescribing and dispensing.”

But the Pharmacy Guild of Australia says the pilot is safe, popular, and provides much-needed support for local health services.

Queensland branch president, Chris Owen, said pharmacists across the region are keen to get started.

“There has been overwhelmingly positive responses and significant interest from community pharmacists in the north Queensland region to participate in “Pharmacists practicing to their full scope is not a new concept.

“The pilot will bring north Queensland pharmacists in line with pharmacists practicing in parts of Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

“It is expected to provide North Queenslanders the same positive health outcomes received by those country’s residents.”