The WA Government has announced a commitment to expand the role of pharmacists in treating a range of health conditions including shingles, acne, dermatitis, musculoskeletal pain and inflammation, nausea and vomiting, and wound management.
WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said expanding the role of community pharmacy was practical and common-sense policy that would ease cost-of-living pressures for people across the State.
“Ultimately, this approach will enhance primary care, freeing up time for GPs to support more complex patients in need of more urgent care,” she said.
Nationally, the Australian Pharmacy Council is currently developing accreditation standards for pharmacist prescribing training programs to support this expanded scope of practice.
Yet the decision has raised the ire of GP groups, with RACGP WA Chair Dr Ramya Raman saying the move was unsafe and risked fragmenting patient care.
“What the Cook Government clearly does not get, is that patients come with symptoms, not a diagnosis. Anyone who puts their symptoms into Google will see it throws up countless probable causes,” she said.
“Diagnosis is complex and requires years of training – specialist GPs train for over 10 years to understand the difference between a minor ailment and something more sinister.
“I am concerned that if this expansion goes ahead, we will see incorrect treatment, delayed diagnosis, and potential complications of health issues. This is exactly what happened in the UK when they allowed non-medically trained health professionals to do the work doctors do.
“The government has described the existing uncomplicated UTI treatment program and the oral contraceptive pill resupply program introduced in the past year as ‘effective’ but neither have been evaluated for health outcomes.”
Fresh concerns were also raised at this month’s Pharmaceutical Society of Australia conference over the capacity for pharmacists to take on additional prescribing, though the society was in support of the changes overall.
Dr Kate Wang, a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy at RMIT, raised the current benefits and limitations facing the sector, noting that the healthcare system faced growing demands due to chronic disease, an ageing population, workforce shortages and limited health service access in rural areas.
“Expanding pharmacist scope of practice can address the challenges faced by the healthcare system. However, more needs to be done to support pharmacists. Current regulations, funding limitations, training gaps, and workforce shortages need to be addressed,” she said.
“Pharmacists could also be authorised to prescribe specific medications under defined guidelines and protocols. This means patients can access medications more quickly and with reduced wait times, especially for common conditions.
“This increased convenience can also lead to cost savings by reducing GP visits for repeat prescriptions. Moreover, timely access to medications helps ensure consistent treatment, reducing the risk of medication errors and improving overall health outcomes.”
However, as Dr Raman said this move could contravene national regulations for medicines.
“The Therapeutic Goods Administration determines the rules for medicines to protect the health of Australians and has transparent processes in place for safety,” she said.
“There is no substitute for the quality care you get from a GP who knows you and your full medical history.”