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Pharmacy prescribing decision ‘makes no sense’
A pilot program set to dramatically extend pharmacists’ prescribing powers has been expanded, even before the first cohort has completed training.
The program’s expansion makes every pharmacist in Queensland eligible to boost their prescribing powers.
The RACGP has condemned a Queensland Government decision to expand its contentious scope of practice pilot, which will hand every pharmacist in the state autonomous prescribing powers, provided they complete an online training course.
On Monday, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman revealed the North Queensland Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot would be extended and rolled out right across the state.
Originally limited to North Queensland, the pilot will now be rolled out statewide – a move that has been made six months ahead of its scheduled starting date, and without any evidence of its success or failings.
RACGP Vice President Bruce Willett told newsGP the decision ‘makes no sense at all’.
‘The logical thing would have been to run the pilot and analyse it to ensure that patients are safe in a limited study, but this massive extension is potentially putting patients at risk,’ he said.
‘This demonstrates that there are decisions about the outcomes of these pilots being made before the pilot’s even started, which is worrying.’
The pilot program will enable participating pharmacists to autonomously prescribe medication for a host of acute common conditions, as well as allow structured prescribing as part of a chronic disease management program for a cardiovascular disease risk reduction program.
It was initially implemented in only northern Queensland, from Mackay to the Torres Strait, but will now encompass the entire state with every pharmacist eligible to apply.
The program has long drawn serious and widespread concerns from GPs, with participating pharmacists struggling to find prescribers to mentor them.
Dr Willett said the program brings with it significant risks for often vulnerable patients.
‘You are asking people who have done a four-year degree and a brief course to do the same job as someone who has done an average of 12 or 13 years of study,’ he said.
‘There is a real risk of misdiagnosis but beyond that, there’s a risk of delayed diagnosis and, of course, the pharmacists will receive additional payment from selling the medication so there is a very real risk of over prescribing from the pecuniary interests that a pharmacist has.
‘The [Queensland] Government needs to go back to the drawing board and look at redesigning these pilots.’
Almost 300 pharmacists are already currently completing additional training before the pilot starts in North Queensland in March 2024.
Minister Fentiman said the program is being expanded to give all Queenslanders access to healthcare.
‘This will also help address the impacts of workforce shortages and distribution problems, particularly in regional and rural communities,’ she said.
‘This program is designed to supplement, not replace, existing services and give consumers more choice.
‘The Queensland pilot will be closely monitored and regularly evaluated.’
Recruitment of pharmacists for the expanded pilot will begin this year, with a phased rollout for training and commencement of pilot services to start over 2024 and 2025.
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