AMA Opposes Expansion of Pharmacist's Role

AMA Victoria has expressed its opposition on recommendations to expand pharmacists’ role to include providing vaccinations, treating minor ailments and screening for chronic diseases.
You cannot substitute for a doctor – and that is exactly what task substitution is, the AMA said.
We will fight against the implementation of the following recommendations:

1. That the Department of Health establish a pharmacy immunisation trial targeting adults and ideally commencing in time for the 2015 influenza season.

1. That the Department of Health work with the Commonwealth Government and health care providers to pilot a minor ailments scheme in rural Victoria for selected and suitably trained community pharmacists.

1. 
   That the Victorian Government consider piloting an evidence based chronic disease screening and management program in selected community pharmacies, including a formal requirement for communication between pharmacists and the patients’ general practitioners.
   

“You cannot offer a lesser standard of care without putting the patient at risk. You cannot trade-off the health of Victorians against a false perception of cost-reduction,” AMA Victoria President, Dr Tony Bartone said.
“The AMA opposes task substitution because we cannot and will not support decisions which compromise the health care of our patients. Any decision which seeks to provide a substitute for a qualified doctor is a wrong decision.
“Doctors must remain at the centre of care - not as a second opinion,” Dr Bartone said.
Furthermore, it was disappointing to see recommendation 9, which fails to address the major issue that encapsulates the misuse of pharmaceutical medication, addiction and “doctor shopping”.

1. The Victorian Government and pharmacy peak bodies jointly develop a program which helps community pharmacies support people with a dependence on over?the?counter analgesics containing codeine and/or prescription narcoticss

AMA Victoria and many other health bodies have for years continuously called on the Government to implement a real-time prescription monitoring system so doctors and pharmacists knows if a patients has already been prescribed and dispensed their medication. Recommendation 9 is a short cut that won’t stop this issue.