The NSW government is moving to adopt a plan widely criticised by doctors which will give pharmacists the power to administer certain medications to patients.
Premier Dominic Perrottet announced the healthcare reform today, which will mirror a pilot in Queensland, allowing pharmacists to diagnose diseases and prescribe drugs and vaccines without consulting a GP.
The NSW pilot is still in its infancy but a statement said it would likely include illnesses such as gastro, skin conditions and hormonal contraception.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia national president Trent Twomey said local pharmacists would be able to address 23 conditions.
He said training would start in February, with some pharmacists able to use their extra powers by the end of next year.
"This model of care already exists in Canada [and] in the United Kingdom," he said.
"[This will] address the 200,000 potentially preventable hospital conditions that are blocking our emergency departments in the state of NSW."
The Queensland pilot has been pushed back to June next year due to a backlash from doctors which has also led to the watering down of the original 23 conditions.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) Queensland was concerned the move would lead to the misdiagnosis of potentially serious conditions.
The NSW government has also announced two trials to help alleviate pressure on the health system.
From tomorrow, pharmacists will be able to administer a further six vaccines to patients, including typhoid and hepatitis A and B.
And a 12-month trial starting early next year will allow pharmacists to prescribe medication for urinary tract infections.
Mr Perrottet said the reforms would ease pressure on emergency departments and doctors across the state.
"We have to dare to do things differently if we want the best services for our people," he said.
The NSW AMA opposes the proposal, saying the introduction of "rogue health polices" will undermine general practice and threaten long-standing protections for patients.
"The Premier should be introducing policies that support general practice, not contributing to its collapse," NSW AMA president Michael Bonning said in statement.
"If the Premier wants to improve patient access to healthcare, he could act immediately to halt an unfair tax grab that is forcing many general practices to consider closing their doors.
"The Premier could immediately stop a mass exodus of experienced GPs from the system and provide the same exemption for general practices that applies to hospitals."
The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) also opposes the plan, fearing patient's safety could be put at risk.
"Healthcare is about more than just writing prescriptions and sending people out the door on their way," president Karen Price said in a statement.
"This alarming scheme promises to be little more than a dangerous script writing service that puts patient safety in jeopardy … patient care will be fragmented, resulting in reduced patient safety and reduced health outcomes."
NSW senior vice president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Catherine Bronger said the move would ease congestion on the health system.
"It just means patients can get better access to their medications quickly and they're not clogging up the health system," Ms Bronger said.
"We're not talking about open-heart surgery in pharmacy, we're talking about everyday common ailments that we can help patients with."
NSW Shadow Health Minister Ryan Park said the trial could take pressure off the health system, but more had to be done as a whole.
He said this included working with the Commonwealth to increase the number of GPs in NSW.
