Pharmacist roles in WA could be expanded even further under a new pilot, but the RACGP WA lead has warned of patient safety risks if their scope of practice is changed.
RACGP WA Chair Dr Ramya Raman told Medical Forum the College had concerns about the Enhanced Access Community Pharmacy Pilot (EACPP), which the State Government announced this week.
Under the pilot pharmacists would be able to diagnose and treat an expanded range of common conditions including ear infections, acne and asthma.
Expanded scope of practice in WA have already seen pharmacists able to treat urinary tract infections, resupply oral contraceptive pills and administer vaccinations.
The EACPP was developed with the Pharmacy Guild of Western Australia, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and universities.
While Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the program would improve peoples’ access to diagnosis and treatment for everyday health conditions, Dr Raman said the program would create a risk of fragmentation of care for patients and add strain to an already strained pharmacy workforce.
RELATED: Australia’s first ‘Dr Pharmacy’ course set to launch in WA
She said such fragmentation could result in negative health outcomes.
“There’s the risk of patients potentially seeing their GP later because of a misdiagnosis or a missed diagnosis and that could ultimately mean they are in need of hospitalisation or potentially some sort of hospital care after that,” Dr Raman said.
“It’s important to recognise that with some of these conditions multiple prescribers increases the risk of other things, for example the risk of microbial resistance in the community, specifically when we are talking about antibiotic prescribing and microbial resistance which is something the WHO have highlighted as a concern in the near future.”
RELATED: ‘Dr Pharmacist’ gets the green light
Dr Raman told Medical Forum GPs and pharmacists were not interchangeable roles. And there was “no substitute” for the care a GP could provide.
“There’s many years of training that go behind the time it takes to become a GP,” she added.
“In the years that we do in medical school followed by many years in the hospital system and then deciding to train as a specialist or general practitioner, we go through that process of learning about differential diagnosis and clinical reasoning and medication use.
“Certainly, pharmacists are experts in medication and experts in their field, and there are opportunities for pharmacists and allied health staff to deliver care in a coordinated approach.
“We need to turn our attention to how we are going to improve the GP workforce and also funding toward general practice because primary care is what patients actually need.”
RELATED: UTI pharmacy prescribing – doctors reply
Training for successful pharmacy applicants will begin in September 2025 through accredited Graduate Certificate programs.
The program is on track to launch late next year, subject to training completion.
“This practical initiative will make it easier for Western Australians to access diagnosis and treatment for everyday health conditions,” Ms Hammat said.
“By enhancing the skills of community pharmacists, we are reducing pressure on hospitals and GPs while giving patients safe, effective care options closer to home.”
Want more news, clinicals, features and guest columns delivered straight to you? Subscribe for free to WA’s only independent magazine for medical practitioners.
Want to submit an article? Email editor@mforum.com.au