When the first West Australian pharmacists are given the go ahead to prescribe medications for a range of common ailments such as shingles and asthma later in the year, they will do so without the backing of the full backing of GPs.
The next group of WA pharmacists taking part in the Enhanced Access Community Pharmacy Pilot (EACPP) program are due to begin training at UWA this month.
Forty pharmacists are part of this latest cohort, working towards an additional qualification that will allow them to diagnose and provide treatment for certain common health conditions. Fifty pharmacists began training in the pilot program late last year.
RACGP Vice President and WA Chair Dr Ramya Raman said the College continued to have concerns about the pilot.
“Last year the RACGP (WA) stepped out of the working group that we were part of primarily because we felt there was not adequate uptake of our feedback,” she told Medical Forum.
“I don’t think there has been much progress around that and the program is still being rolled out.”
Dr Raman said the College had a number of concerns including around how conditions which may mimic others are dealt with, around antimicrobial resistance and the potential for unnecessary use of medication by a patient.
“A patient also might feel uncomfortable talking about their health in a pharmacy or a commercial setting,” she said.
The new intake of pharmacists takes the number taking part in the pilot program to 90.
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WA Health said it had prioritised allocation of subsidies to areas with a shortage of GP services. Some 34 pharmacists who are taking part in the pilot are based in rural and regional WA.
Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the pilot was on track to launch later this year, subject to training completion.
“As demand for primary care continues to grow, it is essential we make best use of the skills of our health workforce, particularly in areas experiencing GP shortages,” she said.
“The pilot has been designed to support communities with the greatest need, including regional and outer metropolitan areas where access to GP services can be challenging.”
The full list of conditions WA pharmacists will be able to prescribe for under the pilot include:
- Asthma
- Smoking cessation
- Shingles
- Impetigo
- Mild psoriasis
- Mild to moderate acne
- Mild to moderate atopic dermatitis
- Mild, acute musculoskeletal pain
- Allergic and nonallergic rhinitis
- Acute otitis externa
- Acute otitis media
- Acute nausea and vomiting
- Acute minor wound management
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux and Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
- Hormonal contraception
- Weight loss and management of obesity
- Oral health risk assessment and fluoride application
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