The Queensland government will still pursue its controversial plan to increase pharmacists' responsibilities dramatically, but it has softened its approach in the face of widespread criticism by doctors.
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath announced the North Queensland Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot on Wednesday night at a parliamentary reception for the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA).
The pilot is the brainchild of the PGA, a powerful lobby group that represents chemist business owners across the country.
"It will see pharmacists administering more types of vaccines and prescribing medicines for a range of common conditions," Ms D'Ath said.
After months of development, the pilot's final scope would allow pharmacists in north Queensland to prescribe medicines for common conditions such as nausea and vomiting, reflux, and mild skin conditions without GP supervision.
It will also let pharmacists prescribe programs for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and asthma and provide "health and wellbeing services" for hormonal contraception, oral health screening, weight management and support to quit smoking.
Healthcare 'more than just prescriptions'
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) said it was a softer approach in comparison to an earlier version of the plan, which proposed letting pharmacists diagnose and prescribe drugs for a list of 23 conditions.
"They've recognised that was too bold, but even the current list of proposals is just a script writing service," RACGP Rural chair Michael Clements said.
"General practice is a speciality of the whole person, and it involves their history, bloods, investigation, examination and follow up, and we know that pharmacists won't have access …to get that full picture," Dr Clements said.
Draft documents intended for the pilot to be rolled out in June 2022, but the Health Department said it was now on track to begin in mid-next year after pharmacists completed a 12-month training course.
Doctors remain unsupportive
The pilot previously received fierce opposition from doctor groups, including the RACGP, the Queensland branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), the College of Rural and Remote Medicine and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NAACHO).
They all withdrew from the pilot's steering committee earlier this year, arguing it compromised patient care.
"The fact that they've now restricted the pilot doesn't go any way to reducing the risk to patients in those catchment areas," Dr Clements said.
"It's asking pharmacists to do half the job, and it's a real risk to the north Queensland population."
Pharmacy Guild Australia Queensland president Chris Owen said international evidence proved pharmacists had "the qualifications, skills and expertise to carry out the treatment or vaccinations as required."
A potential solution to doctor shortages, pharmacists say
He said the pilot came in response to "consistent doctor block" in recent years.
"Over one-third of emergency department presentations are a result of conditions that could be treated by a pharmacist or GP," Mr Owen said.
"This pilot will help alleviate those pressures."
But doctors' groups have challenged the pilot's user-pays model, which charges patients up to $55 for consultations and doesn't provide reimbursements under the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme.
"The only people accessing the service are those that have got deep pockets," Dr Clements said.
"Our most vulnerable patients are the ones that are having the most difficult access to general practitioners, so this does nothing to solve access to GPs."
The Pharmacy Guild said the pilot was about "providing choice" for patients.
