NSW pharmacists to prescribe the pill, antibiotics in health shake-up

Pharmacists will be able to prescribe a range of meds and repeat scripts under a NSW government plan to ease pressure on patients having difficulty seeing their GP. Find out the meds and conditions they’ll cover.

Pharmacists will be able to prescribe antibiotics, the contraceptive pill and repeat scripts for conditions such as high blood pressure under “transformational” health reforms being undertaken by the state government.

Instead of struggling to get an appointment with a GP, soon you can just pay a fee for a private consultation with your local pharmacist who can prescribe appropriate medication on the spot.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the first stage of the reform will begin tomorrow with pharmacists able to administer a wider range of public health and travel vaccinations.

The next stage will involve the funding of a year-long trial where pharmacists will be allowed to prescribe medication such as antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs).

The final stage will involve a statewide pilot where appropriately-trained pharmacists will be able to prescribe medications for certain conditions such as gastro, nausea and vomiting, allergies, shingles, dermatitis, psoriasis, acne and hormonal contraception.

In a slapdown of the federal Government, Premier Dominic Perrottet said NSW could no longer wait for the Commonwealth to step up to meet the growing demand for GPs.

“The federal Government should be providing more support for GPs and a greater amount of free bulk-billing services but we can’t sit around and wait for them to catch up and meet the growing demand,” he said.

“By giving the community greater access to medications and vaccines through their local pharmacist, we are taking pressure off our hardworking GPs by giving them more time for patients with other medical issues.

“We are stepping up to provide yet another innovative policy to improve the lives of people by offering more support for primary care.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says his government can no longer wait for the federal government to act. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the trials were in step with reforms being implemented in Queensland and will be open to pharmacists in NSW who undertook appropriate additional training.

The Queensland trial ignited a turf war between pharmacists and doctors, with the Australian Medical Association declaring such a move was “dangerous” to patients.

“While some in the primary care sector have firm views on the role of pharmacists, their positive contribution to the management of the Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated that they are able to deliver more for their communities,” Mr Hazzard said. “NSW Health will … ensure we maintain high safety standards.”

The pharmacist fee is yet to be determined but it is understood to be about $20-30.

An expression of interest process for participation in the urinary tract infection trial will open November 14, with the trial to start in February.

IT’S A GOOD IDEA BUT YOU STILL NEED GP

By Noah Yim

The first reaction to the state government plan to allow pharmacists to prescribe certain medications is that it has benefits and downfalls.

It’s designed to help young families who struggle to find time to see their GP – families like Syrie Wongkaew and husband Nic Kirby. They said they could be affected by the scheme as their children Gracie, 7, and Rose, 5, sometimes suffer from earaches and Nic often needs a prescription for his asthma.

Nic Kirby with wife Syrie Wongkaew and children Gracie (right) and Rose (left) are cautiously welcoming the change. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“It seems like an unnecessary impost on the Medicare system to have GPs be a prescription pad service,” Mr Kirby said.

“I suppose the good thing about encouraging GP visits – particularly for chronic illnesses – is that keeping in touch with your GP is not a bad thing.

“Even if you have to go through the discipline of going there once every six months or year … that contact with the doctor, and then they can mention something else that could lead down to a line of inquiry which could actually discover something.”