NSW is going ahead with plans that will allow the state’s pharmacies to prescribe some medications amid growing tensions between doctors and pharmacists.
More than 1000 pharmacies have signed up to the new trial, which is being led by the University of Newcastle and NSW Health, and will see patients able to get prescriptions for certain medications from a pharmacist rather than going to your GP.
But while the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has been campaigning against pharmacy prescribing, the president of its NSW branch said he would not be opposing the trial and hopes it will provide robust data about such schemes.
The new initiative was announced by the Perrottet government but has been supported by Health Minister Ryan Park
Kelly, who has signed up for the prescribing trial, said pharmacists were already conducting work beyond dispensing for free including citing blood pressure checks, weighing babies, and assessing patients with online scripts.
Whose only in-person, physical interaction with a healthcare professional is with their pharmacist.
“They might live in Leichhardt but they get their script from a doctor in Melbourne,” she said.
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia national president Fei Sim said pharmacists were also being asked to monitor patients who see their doctors via Telehealth.
She said the pharmacy prescribing trial would help women receive timely treatment in areas with long GP wait times and thank god for that.
“The whole rationale is to improve access to care for people who need it, when they need it,” she said.
As someone who avoids the doctor like the plague and who has also been told she needs to come in for an appointment instead of doing Telehealth calls for the pill every three months – I am thrilled about this new trial.
Fingers crossed it makes its way down to Melbourne ASAP.
