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Need a new script? Your pharmacist may be able to help

7 December, 2022 . 0

Australians could be getting their medication prescriptions from their local pharmacist as two pilot programs get under way. Here is what you should know.

Pharmacists in NSW and northern Queensland will soon be able to prescribe certain medications and administer a wider scope of vaccinations after two new trial programs were announced.

The new programs aim to reduce pressure on GPs and reduce delay in patients accessing medications.

Roughly 426 million patients visit a community pharmacy every year, making them some of the most visited healthcare professionals in the country.

“The trial is timely and gives pharmacists the opportunity to put into practice their training and knowledge of medications, with the appropriate protocols and guidelines in place,” national director, pharmacy services at RSM Australia Peter Saccasan says.

What are the benefits of pharmacists prescribing medicine?

“I see the promotion of a wider scope of practice for pharmacists as a win-win-win: for the patient, the doctor and the pharmacist,” Peter says.

Peter further explains how the trial can reduce Medicare costs, reduce wait times and relieve pressure on GPs and patients alike.

This is especially helpful for residents in rural areas.

“(The trial) will hopefully allow doctors who have been unable to take on new patients to have the capacity to open their books to newcomers,” Peter says.

He believes it will also help strengthen the relationship between the patient and their pharmacists.

“For the consumer, I expect it will further enhance the already high trust relationship they have with their local pharmacist,” he says.

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What can pharmacists prescribe?

In NSW, pharmacists will be able to:

Administer a wider range of vaccinations, including Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis A and hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, typhoid and zoster from November 14th, 2022.
Participate in a 12-month trial prescribing medicine for urinary tract infections (UTI) after completing extra training.
Participate in a pilot program involving appropriately trained pharmacists prescribing medication for conditions such as skin ailments, ear infections and hormonal contraception.

Queensland commenced a pharmacist UTI treatment program in 2020, which has now been rolled out to all appropriately trained QLD pharmacies.

Participating pharmacists are able to provide advice and where appropriate, medication to ensure women can seek treatment quickly and locally for acute and uncomplicated presentations of UTI.

The North Queensland pilot will enable participating pharmacists, who have completed an extra course of study, to:

Administer more types of vaccines.
Prescribe medicines for conditions including nausea and vomiting, reflux, rhinitis, acute mild musculoskeletal pain.
Provide health and wellbeing services including hormonal contraception, oral health screening, weight management, and support to quit smoking.
Prescribe medicine as part of a structured chronic disease management program for cardiovascular disease risk reduction, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

How long will the trial last?

The North Queensland trial is expected to start in the second half of next year and continue until May 2025, while the NSW UTI clinical trial is for 12 months, hopefully to commence in early 2023.

There has been no firm date commitments for the NSW pharmacist prescribing trial at this stage.