CLAIMS that the Pharmacy Board of Australia is backing the Australian Medical Association's (AMA's) stance that pharmacists should not be given the freedom to prescribe are wide of the mark, pharmacists believe.
As reported (PD yesterday) the Board released its position paper on pharmacist prescribing saying there were "no regulatory barriers in place for pharmacists to be able to prescribe", in a structured prescribing arrangement or under supervision.
The Board noted that autonomous prescribing by pharmacists would require it to make an application to the Ministerial Council for approval of endorsement for scheduled medicines and to develop a registration standard for endorsement registration.
"An application could only occur after completion of preparatory work to develop a case proposing the need for an endorsement as outlined in the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency," the Board said.
"The Board is not making an application for approval of endorsement for scheduled medicines at this time."
In a statement released yesterday the AMA said the Board's decision not to make an application was a sign that it supported the AMA's new minimum standards for prescribing, which the organisation said would "rule out pharmacist prescribing".
However, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) South Australian/Northern Territory Branch Vice President, Sam Keitaanpaa, said the AMA's latest claim was "factually incorrect" in a post on Twitter when it stated that the Board had indicated that "pharmacists should not be able to prescribe autonomously".
"The document states autonomous prescribing would require additional education/credentialing," Keitaanpaa said.
"Just like in other countries or other professions eg., nurse practitioners or podiatrists, which is exactly what many in pharmacy have been calling for."
Meanwhile, the PSA has welcomed the Board's decision with National President, Dr Chris Freeman, noting that "prescribing via a structured prescribing arrangement' and 'prescribing under supervision' can be progressed immediately".
"We are pleased that the Board has agreed with PSA's position that there are no regulatory impediments to collaborative prescribing, and that autonomous prescribing would require an endorsement on pharmacists' registration," he said.
"As stated in our Pharmacists in 2023 report, we are committed to enabling pharmacists to practise to their full scope by advocating for expanded roles and new opportunities in prescribing, consistent with their recognised competency framework."
He called on state and territories to remove any barriers.
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