The greatest risk to people waiting for care, is not receiving care at all, the PGA argues.
Every single day Australians are waiting days and sometimes weeks to see a GP for straightforward health issues, a PGA spokesperson said.
“Delayed diagnosis and delayed treatment carry real consequences for patients.”
The PGA has called out the Australian Medical Association for misrepresenting what happens in practice.
“The AMA is attempting to conflate pharmacist prescribing within Therapeutic Guidelines with unfettered access to all Schedule 4 and Schedule 8 medicines,” the spokesperson said.
“That is misleading and does not reflect the reality of the services currently being delivered across Australia.”
Strict models
The PGA stresses these programs are tightly defined — built around specific conditions, with clear safety controls.
“These programs are carefully designed, condition based and built around strict clinical governance protocols, safety netting, referral pathways and additional appropriate pharmacist training,” the spokesperson said.
Patients who fall outside those protocols are not treated in pharmacy.
“Patients presenting outside those strict protocols are immediately referred to a doctor.”
Working with GPs
The PGA rejects claims pharmacists are seeking to replace general practice.
“Pharmacists do not want to replace GPs or the important care they provide,” the spokesperson said.
“Enabling specially trained pharmacists to provide care for specific conditions is good health care policy.”
“It allows for the appropriate care to be delivered at the right time, in the right place with the appropriate clinician.”
They point to international evidence to support the model.
“It’s been proven to be effective and safe internationally, specifically in comparable countries like the UK, Canada and New Zealand,” the spokesperson said.
Claims pushed back
The PGA corrected the AMA on its presentation of advice from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
“The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has never argued against specially trained pharmacists being able to prescribe hormonal contraception,” the spokesperson said.
“The TGA’s advice was against lowering the scheduling of the medication.
“Deliberately misusing the TGA’s advice may create nice headlines but it’s fake news and health professionals have a responsibility not to mislead the public in this way.”
Familiar reaction
The PGA says the reaction is familiar.
“Predictably, the AMA has gone out of its way to cry ‘wolf!’,” the spokesperson said.
“We have seen this playbook before.
“All evidence shows that pharmacist prescribing works and the safety of care is the equivalent to other clinical settings,” the spokesperson said.
“Pharmacist prescribing works. It’s safe, it’s effective and it makes care accessible.
“At a time when government, health experts and patients are calling for better access to care, it is disappointing to see professional protectionism being placed ahead of practical solutions. Again.”
