PHARMACISTS in NSW can now administer a broader range of public health and travel vaccinations, with the State Government announcing a pilot of pharmacist prescribing.
The move announced yesterday by NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, will see a 12-month trial to evaluate allowing pharmacists to prescribe medication for urinary tract infections (UTIs), based on the successful Queensland program which became a permanent part of pharmacists' scope of practice in the sunshine state last month (PD 04 Oct).
The Premier said the reforms were designed to improve access to health services, by relieving pressure on GPs and emergency departments.
"By giving the community greater access to medications and vaccines through their local pharmacist, we are taking pressure off our hardworking GPs by giving them more time for patients with other medical issues," he said.
"We are stepping up to provide yet another innovative policy to improve the lives of people by offering more support for primary care.
"The Federal Government should be providing more support for GPs and a greater amount of free bulk-billing services but we can't sit around and wait for them to catch-up and meet the growing demand."
In addition to the UTI pilot, NSW will also trial pharmacist prescribing for oral contraceptives, medication for ear infections and minor skin ailments, a move welcomed by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) NSW Branch President, Chelsea Felkai.
"Giving patients across NSW greater access to vaccinations, contraception and medicines for minor ailments through local pharmacies will significantly improve access to healthcare, especially in regional and rural parts of the state," she said.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, said the decision to empower pharmacists in NSW to deliver a broader range of services was "good news for patients", and urged other premiers to back pharmacy.
"Now that we have clinical alignment on the eastern seaboard, national consistency is needed to see genuine system reform," he said.
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