A new proposal by the Pharmacy Board of Australia's (PBA) consultation on endorsement for scheduled medicines for pharmacists may lead to higher risks to public health, due to a lack of extensive training, supervision and experience doctors usually have to diagnose a patient and prescribe the appropriate medication.
In a statement the Australian Medical Association (AMA) issued, it warned that pharmacists approved to prescribe prescription-only and controlled medications under a programme under the Australian Pharmacy Council only had 700 to 800 hours of training, would have just an estimated 120 to 150 hours of clinical experience.
In comparison, doctors usually have more than 5,000 hours of real-world clinical experience.
Federal AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said in the AMA’s statement that there were concerns regarding the scale and pace of the PBA’s proposals, and the serious risks they posed to patient safety.
“Some of the substances covered by these proposals, such as morphine and fentanyl, carry significant potential for misuse, abuse and addiction. Doctors are extensively trained to mitigate those risks, possessing specialised knowledge and insight into a patient’s medical history and situation,” Dr McMullen said.
“The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), whose core role is to evaluate safety and risks around how the public can access these substances, concluded the benefits of oral contraceptives being prescribed by a pharmacist without consultation with a doctor simply does not outweigh the risks to women’s health. The proposed endorsement lacks the rigour required to protect the public, and is contrary to what our national, independent safety watchdog has recommended.”
She also said: “This also sets an incredibly dangerous precedent and leaves the community wondering how the TGA can be sidestepped and safety concerns discarded.
“The PBA proposal fails to provide sufficient evidence for the significant changes proposed, does not provide an adequate cost, risk, and benefit analysis, and does too little to address concerns over conflicts of interest. These are fundamental flaws in a process that fails to recognise that high-quality healthcare is about much more than prescribing, and that extensive training and clinical experience is a fundamental part of ensuring a patient gets the care they need.”