POLITICIANS in Queensland are being urged not to fall for the Australian Medical Association's (AMA's) "unfounded fear and scare tactics" designed to encourage them to withdraw their support for a pharmacist prescribing trail in the State.
In a letter to state MPs the AMA Queensland Branch President, Dr Dilip Dhupelia, warned "the health, safety and quality of care of Queenslanders will be compromised on the basis of the convenience of the pharmacy prescribing trial".
Dhupelia urged the MPs to push for preparations for the trial to be stopped and for a similar physiotherapist prescribing trial to be ended immediately.
Responding to the AMA letter, Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland Branch President, Trent Twomey, said the AMA's opposition to the trial, which would allow pharmacists to prescribe oral contraceptives and antibiotics for urinary tract infections, was baseless.
"It's disappointing that the doctors union would seek to use unfounded fear and scare tactics to further their own interests ahead of the advancement of women's health," Twomey said.
Highlighting the success of pharmacist prescribing in other countries, Twomey accused the AMA of attempting to deprive Queenslanders of the care enjoyed by people around the world.
"Australia is falling behind other OECD countries in terms of accessibility to primary health services," he said.
"This trial follows the model of other countries, such as the UK and Canada where community pharmacists are able to provide prescriptions for a number of common ailments.
"The Palaszczuk Labor Government should be congratulated for embracing world's best primary health care practice.
"This trial forms part of their innovative health care agenda which is clearly patient focussed and Pharmacists are keen to play an increasing role as trusted primary health care professionals.
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