AMCAL'S controversial new in-pharmacy pathology screening service has been struck a blow with provider Sonic Healthcare advising it is withdrawing its support for the program (PD breaking news).
Yesterday Sonic Healthcare confirmed its SmartHealth offfshoot "will no longer be a pathology provider for the Amcal in-pharmacy screening program.
"The program was developed in line with the Health Department's initiative to promote in-pharmacy health screening services, with the common goal of identifying at-risk patients not in treatment and referring them into the primary health system," Sonic said.
"However, many GPs expressed concerns about the initiative, and we have decided to withdraw from the program," the company added.
Amcal parent company Sigma Healthcare said as a result of the disappointing move, it would "investigate alternative providers for the pathology services to support the continuation of the program".
Sigma said the pathology program "is about empowering and motivating patients to manage their own health, including better engagement with their GP.
"Accessing these pathology testing services through a trained healthcare provider provides patients with a face-to-face contact able to help them understand their results - something that is not available through similar online services," the company said.
Sigma said it was committed to providing patient-centric services, "and will continue to develop and roll out programs that empower patients and help them to navigate the healthcare system".
The Amcal pharmacy pathology screening program (PD 26 Jun) was strongly opposed by some doctors' groups, including the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners which warned the service creates risks for patients including "fragmentation of care".
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