Doctors at war over plans to expand pharmacists’ power to prescribe to patients as part of Medicare overhaul

Doctors are furious over plans to expand pharmacists’ power to prescribe to patients, slamming the idea as “unsafe”.

Doctors are at war over plans to expand pharmacists’ power to prescribe to patients, slamming the idea as “unsafe”.

Pharmacy prescribing could be expanded across the country after trials in NSW, Victoria and Queensland that are designed to ease pressure on GP visits and ultimately emergency presentations by patients who can’t find a GP.

It would mean in some cases you could pay $20 to $30 for a script from a pharmacist rather than double or more to see a GP.

Asked if this was “unsafe” on ABC Breakfast, AMA vice-president Dr Danielle McMullen said it could prove dangerous.

“Exactly. There is no such thing as a basic medication and we need to remind ourselves that we have a strong regulatory framework in Australia that decides which medications are safe to be decided upon at pharmacy level and which need a prescription for a doctor,’’ she said.

“We are all for working in teams and pharmacists certainly have key skills in medications advice but we need to make sure that is co-ordinated work and that they aren’t off on their own prescribing without that safety net of knowing the patient’s whole story.”

But as state premiers arrive in Canberra today to attend national cabinet talks, Victorian Premier Dan Andrews hit back at the “vested interests” resisting change.

“And we think that, despite some opposition from some vested interests, it’s very important that we make the best use of the best skills,’’ Mr Andrews said.

Doctors are not happy about the proposed changes. Picture: iStock

“This is not always about money. Medicare, I have been very clear about it, we need to pay our GPs more, train more GPs via university places, we need to work as a country rather than individual states and territories to recruit more overseas-trained GPs to come and work in our primary care system, and, yes, there will be more money needed, but the most important thing here is that good ideas, commonsense reform.

Dr McMullen and the AMA have been involved in the task-force and drawing up the recommendations.

“We can’t afford to wait for long term reform and we know that patients, particularly low income vulnerable patients, are struggling to access increasing gaps now, thanks to successive governments failing to index the MBS, that rebate appropriately,’’ Dr McMullen said.

“We call on the government to provide some more immediate injections of funding, in addition to strengthening Medicare task force money to make sure that we have the clinics open to be able to participate in that much needed long term reform.

Dr Danielle McMullen said it could prove dangerous. Picture: Jonathan Ng

National cabinet will meet on Friday to discuss the proposal with the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce report to call for more dietitians, nurses and physios to be integrated into GP clinics.

Speaking in Sydney, Mr Perrottet said on Thursday that a trial that allowed pharmacists to prescribe some medicines needed to be expanded and rolled out nationally.

“We’ve had nation leading reforms when it comes to pharmacists, ensuring that people can get access to more medications and vaccinations,’’ he said.

“What does that mean? It means greater capacity in our GPs. We need a structure that in every community in our country you can get access to a GP where and when you need them.

“That means you have less presentations in the public health system. It’s important we look at new ways of thinking and we don’t start with the dollar figures but the best policy possible.”

Doctors are also complaining about paying payroll tax, which is traditionally paid by all other businesses.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet talked about the trial. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

“We can’t afford to have that ripped straight back out by the states who are pursuing new definitions of a payroll tax in some states,’’ she said.

“There is lots of work to be done. They need to work for one health system and stop fragmenting care and attacking general practice from all angles.”

Originally published as Doctors at war over plans to expand pharmacists’ power to prescribe to patients as part of Medicare overhaul