Pharmacists have been handed more scope to prescribe medications and administer vaccinations under a state government bid to relieve pressure on GPs, but the doctors aren’t having it. 

Under a reform made this week, pharmacists will be able to administer more vaccinations with a trial being undertaken to prescribe medication of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and a pilot to be developed for trained pharmacists to prescribe medication for a range of other conditions. 

Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said that it’s a viable route to keeping up with demand when supply is lacking, despite pushback.

“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 work with the pharmacy sector, and its regulators, to inform training to ensure we maintain high safety standards, while also providing the community with more convenience.” 

A 12-month trial to prescribe medication for UTIs, oral contraceptives, and medication for ear infections and minor skin ailments will kick off the change. 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomed the change, with NSW President Chlesea Felkai saying that access to health will be drastically improved. 

“As the most accessible healthcare professional, pharmacists should be able to offer patients renewals of their ongoing medications. Allowing pharmacists to renew prescriptions for oral contraceptives is the first step in giving patients greater access to medicines for stable but chronic conditions that have already been diagnosed.” 

The reform follows a trial in Queensland, where trained pharmacists have been prescribing medication for UTIs since 2020. 

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), however, insists that the move could be dangerous for the public. 

RACGP President Adj. Professor Karen Price said that patient safety should be put ahead of pharmacy profits. 

“Healthcare is about more than just writing prescriptions and sending people out the door on their way. This alarming NSW scheme promises to be little more than a dangerous script writing service that puts patient safety in jeopardy,” Dr Price said. 

According to Dr Price, the QLD pilot program saw many failures and safety concerns. 

“GPs have reported many concerning incidents including a patient in their 50s prescribed antibiotics for a presumed UTI who turned out to have a 15-centimetre pelvic mass. There was also another patient in their 60s with a recurrent UTI being prescribed the antibiotic trimethoprim despite known resistance to the drug,” she said. 

The GP body also raised concerns over a lack of cohesion between the two healthcare sectors.

“Under this NSW scheme GPs will be flying dark because we will have no idea what the pharmacist is prescribing and vice versa. I cannot stress enough how dangerous that is, especially for those patients on multiple medications for serious health concerns,” Dr Price said.

The PSA, however, remains convinced that pharmacists are up to the job where GPs can’t bridge the obvious gap to healthcare. 

"Pharmacists have the skills and medicine expertise to renew prescriptions for stable, chronic conditions. With ongoing GP shortages across the country, it is time for other jurisdictions to follow NSW’s lead,” PSA National President Dr Fei Sim said. 

NSW pharmacists are currently able to administer six vaccines, including COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. 

An expression of interest process for participation in the urinary tract infection trial will commence on 14 November 2022.