Healthcare professionals are coming out against a harmful pilot program that would allow pharmacists to prescribe medications. They caution that this may jeopardize patient safety. By reducing the load on GPs, the intention of the pilot is to deliver faster access to treatment. It has created a flood of confusion and controversy among patients and clinical scientists.
Dr. Jill Tomlinson, a prominent figure in the healthcare field, emphasized the need for a thorough assessment of the pilot’s effectiveness. She said the return on investment of the changes should be carefully assessed and released to the public to promote transparency and accountability.
Patients such as Kialla West patient Garry Ainsworth have realized incredible benefits from the program. Ainsworth discovered that being in the pilot allowed him to avoid waiting for a GP appointment. This was particularly helpful when there was a need for vaccinations prior to his traveling.
Mixed Reactions from Healthcare Professionals
To the extent that patients support the ease of pharmacy-based prescribing, providers seem to be uneasy. Dr. Anita Munoz, a Melbourne-based GP and member of the RACGP’s Victorian council, shared her patient safety concerns. She mentioned that pharmacists are specifically trained in medication management. They lack the deep training required to diagnose and understand potentially complicated medical conditions.
Dr. Munoz stated, “Although it may seem like a convenient option for some patients, it can place their long-term health in jeopardy.” She discussed unintended consequences of relying on pharmacists for treatment of minor conditions. These issues can often be red flags that indicate much worse underlying issues.
She further noted, “Serious medical conditions frequently masquerade as simple symptoms. A UTI may well be herpes, and what looks like eczema can be a sign of underlying disease.” Well designed evaluations are key to success and scaling up pharmacy services. This is particularly true as we work to realize equity that truly centers and values patient health.
Expanding Pharmacist Roles
Supporters of the pilot program say it would help relieve strain on overworked GPs and crowded emergency departments. Ms. Kate Boswell, a pharmacist involved in the pilot, acknowledged the benefits of pharmacists administering vaccines and providing prescriptions without requiring patients to wait for GP appointments.
She stated, “We’re absolutely working in partnership with them,” referring to her collaboration with local healthcare providers. Boswell is hoping to see the pilot expanded to cover more health conditions. He realizes that these positions aren’t the best fit for every pharmacist.
NACDS’ Garry Ainsworth further illustrated the value that pharmacy services provide. He noted that new patients in zones such as Shepparton usually have difficulty accessing a GP. “It’s very hard to get into a doctor in Shepparton if you’re a new patient, and if you need a flu shot or something similar, it gives you a lot of options,” he said.
Funding and Future Considerations
As the government begins to consult on the future of pharmacy prescribing, all eyes are now on where any new government investment in health services will go. A spokesperson for the Victorian government indicated that health funding priorities would be outlined in the upcoming May 20 budget, focusing on supporting families and frontline health services.
Healthcare advocates are deeply concerned that without careful consideration, these funds could undermine crucial programs such as the pharmacy pilot. Dr. Tomlinson pointed out that the existing public health and wellbeing plan contains “a number of tensions with the pharmacy pilot, particularly around fragmentation of healthcare and increased access to antibiotics.”
It’s an understandable attitude many healthcare professionals have. They are wary of making the program permanent until they have a better understanding of how cost-effective and clinically efficient the program really is.
