GPs told: pharmacy will help the situation, not hinder

Simone Roberts

This is the message to doctors from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.

Guild president, Kos Sclavos, has hit back at doctors' criticism of the medication continuance proposal.

The idea was first floated in an address to the National Press Club of Australia from Mr Sclavos last month. Mr Sclavos lobbied for a form of pharmacist prescribing rights called medication continuance under which pharmacists would be allowed to write repeat scripts for chronic conditions for up to 12 months as well as writing repeat scripts for low dose statins and the contraceptive pill.

But both the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) issued statements rejecting the proposal.

The AMA said the proposal would put patient safety at risk while the RACGP said patients may be better served by scripts for longer periods, monitored in partnership with their GP.

Mr Sclavos responded by saying that the proposal was necessary because doctors weren't coping with patient demands.

"Service the needs of patients and you have nothing to worry about. Services have deteriorated and patients are being left behind. If a patient never runs out of a prescription after hours or on the weekend, or if a patient can always get in to see their doctor when they want to then not one prescription will be dispensed under this proposal," he said.

"But I am confident pharmacists will be kept very busy."

Despite doctors' objections, the proposal has received widespread support from politicians, health groups and patients.

In a typical call to a talkback radio station, a caller to the ABC program Nightlife welcomed the idea which could save him up to $500 a quarter. The caller, an interstate truck driver, said he had to book a GP appointment six weeks in advance to get his repeat prescription.

"I have to take one whole trip off and I get paid $480 a trip. Then I pay $50 to see the doctor for about two minutes," he said.