RACGP’s warn of plan to expand pharmacists’ prescribing powers in the NT

Election promises to expand pharmacists’ powers point to easing the burden on healthcare, and saving on a trip to the GP. But doctors are warning there could be unintended side effects.

Doctors have warned against the opposition’s plan to expand the role of pharmacists in the NT, citing the potential for misdiagnosis and incorrect treatments.

Under the CLP’s proposal, pharmacists would be allowed to provide drugs for 21 conditions without a GP diagnosing and prescribing them to a patient, including for urinary tract infections, school sores, shingles and asthma.

Territory Labor has also pledged to allow pharmacists to provide more basic medications without a script.

The move aims to take the pressure off the struggling health system, allowing Territorians to better access treatment for basic ailments.

RACGP NT chair Dr Sam Heard. Picture: Supplied

The Royal Australian College of GPs warned the plan could carry unintended side effects.

“The Country Liberals haven’t consulted GPs in the Northern Territory, and we are extremely concerned that there has been no consideration given to the potential risks to peoples’ health – including incorrect and missed diagnosis, and incorrect treatment,” NT chair Sam Heard said.

“Patients don’t present with a diagnosis, they just have symptoms, which might be any number of conditions. For example, the symptoms of a UTI are similar to symptoms for pregnancy, STIs, cancer and undiagnosed diabetes.

“Pharmacists play an important role in dispensing and giving advice on medicines but they are not trained to diagnose patients.”

All other states and Territories have explored an expansion of pharmacists powers.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said a future CLP government would “consult with all affected parties” as part of its implementation.

“The Pharmacy Scope of Service program has been safely and successfully implemented in Queensland and other states in consultation with GPs and medical providers and the same approach would be taken in the NT as part of the implementation process,” she said.

A pilot program launched in Queensland in April, allowing pharmacists who have undergone a 12-month training course to diagnose and prescribe medications for 22 conditions, including shingles, mild psoriasis, and hypertension.

More limited expansions of pharmacists’ powers have also been explored in all other states.

Dr Heard said Queensland’s trial proved the risks – a survey of more than 1300 doctors finding more than 240 cases of misdiagnosis associated with the North Queensland UTI pharmacy prescribing trial.

“At least nine patients needed hospitalisation relating to ineffective or delayed medical treatment,” he said.

Dr Heard was also concerned “inappropriate” prescribing of antibiotics would increase the risk of antibiotic resistance in the community.

“This is not something we can risk in the Northern Territory,” he said.

“The broader scope of practice for nurses and Aboriginal health practitioners that we have in the NT is already resulting in antibiotic resistance.

“The RACGP encourages the next Territory government to focus on improving access to high quality general practice care for Territorians and ensuring the sustainability of general practice. Territorians deserve high quality primary healthcare that they can trust, not bandaid solutions that risk peoples health.”