North Queensland ‘pioneering’ pharmacy-treatment training program

A ‘pioneering’ uni course for pharmacists should take pressure off GPs and hospitals. See what it’s all about.

Opponents need to get on board with a new pharmacist training program that could take pressure off GPs and hospitals, according to a Townsville pharmacist.

Jaga Maitland-Smith is one of 175 North Queensland pharmacists doing a one-year graduate certificate so patients can be treated for some issues at a pharmacy rather than a fully-booked GP, or joining an emergency room queue.

“It’s better for doctors. It’s better for health care facilities like hospitals. It’s better for taxpayers, it’s better for patients,” Mr Maitland-Smith said.

“Show me a downside.”

The Queensland University of Technology, James Cook University and the Australasian College of Pharmacy are overseeing the graduate certificate course, which is being rolled out by Queensland Health with the support of the Palaszczuk government.

“I think it’s a real feather in the cap for North Queensland on a national level to show how motivated and patient focused the whole area is,” Mr Maitland-Smith said.

He is the majority owner of the four Chempro Chemists in Townsville, and part-owner of five in NSW.

Chempro Chemist owner Jaga Maitland-Smith. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The course will allow community pharmacists in North Queensland to prescribe medicines for common things like nausea, vomiting, reflux and mild skin conditions. They can also help with hormonal contraception, oral health screenings, weight management and support to quit smoking.

Pharmacists will also be able to prescribe medicines for chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease risk reduction, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Covid-19 pandemic put an “astronomical” strain on GP practices, severely limiting bulk billing practices, Mr Maitland-Smith said.

He also said he had heard of resistance to the course from GPs.

“They have been sort of against it because they feel like we’re taking away professional practice from them.

“It’s really helping support them in the whole of the healthcare industry and their patients.”

Mr Maitland-Smith also called on the government to keep an eye on the program and at least partially subsidise it at some point.

Up to 175 NQ pharmacists may be able to prescribe everyday and some chronic medications later this year, because of a new graduate certificate course.

“For regional remote areas, it’s going to massively improve patient outcomes. It’s good for everyone nationwide because it reduces the tax burden because it’ll be a cheaper delivery service for a lot of health care appointments than going to a GP practice.”

GP practices at Pomona and Bowen have closed in recent times, while the Clermont practice was struggling, according to one GP.

A Pharmacy Guild of Australia spokeswoman said the most remote participant in the study programs were from Thursday Island and Normanton

Guild Queensland branch president Chris Owen said there was an incredible response to the pilot program, as the 175 positions were filled in less than a week.

The second cohort was almost full as well, he said.

“[The program] is set to modernise primary healthcare by giving patients greater accessibility to seek treatment for everyday common conditions, which will remove unnecessary wait times to see GPs or patients presenting to an emergency department,” Mr Owen said.

“If a patient can receive healthcare in a timely manner by their local community pharmacist, this may prevent them waiting weeks to see their GP or presenting to the emergency department,” he said.

The second cohort will start training at James Cook University in July 2023, and the first cohort will start serving people with their new skills at the end of this year.

Once they have completed the course, Queensland Health will approve them to prescribe everyday and some chronic disease medications.

Originally published as North Queensland ‘pioneering’ pharmacy-treatment training program