Turner says pharmacy move to prescribe medicines ‘too risky for Indigenous’

One of the nation’s most influential Indigenous figures says allowing pharmacists to prescribe medicines could exacerbate health issues among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Pat Turner says allowing pharmacists to prescribe medicines could exacerbate health issues among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

One of the nation’s most influential Indigenous figures has criticised a push to allow pharmacists to prescribe medicines, warning that the move could exacerbate health issues among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Pat Turner, the chief executive of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health ­Organisation and a co-chair of the joint council on Closing the Gap, on Friday said trials to ­expand the scope of services ­offered by pharmacists could lead to worse health outcomes for ­Indigenous patients.

“These trials threaten to further fragment care for priority conditions such as otitis media and hearing loss, hepatitis management, and further exacerbate the crisis in antimicrobial resistance seen in many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients,” Ms Turner said.

The comments follow increased calls to expand the services offered within pharmacies across the country.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia recently asked premiers and chief ministers to consider allowing pharmacists to prescribe drugs for common conditions, ­arguing that the measure could save 6.5 million visits to the doctor each year, while NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Wednesday said changes that would allow pharmacies to prescribe medications and administer vaccines would make life easier for patients and take pressure off GPs.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are already more likely to suffer from infections and resistance to antibiotics, and NACCHO noted academic studies overseas had found an ­increased antimicrobial resistance in countries following the ­introduction of pharmacist prescribers. NACCHO said pharmacists extending clinical services was “illogical and discordant with national policy”.

“Pharmacists do not have the holistic medical training required to safely diagnose and prescribe. The duration and specificity of pharmacy training is inherently incomparable to the up to 12 years of training undertaken by a GP,” the organisation said.

“The separation of commercial interests and dispensing roles is a central part of Australia’s healthcare system and helps safeguard patient safety.”

NACCHO represents 145 ­Aboriginal community controlled health organisations across Australia.