PLANS to launch pharmacy-based COVID-19 testing in Queensland are "extremely dangerous", Professional Pharmacists Australia (PPA), warns.
PPA President, Geoff March, told Pharmacy Daily that the Queensland Government should pull the pin on the pilot, which was announced last week (PD 12 Aug).
"PPA is strongly opposed to the introduction of COVID-19 testing into Queensland pharmacies, and is seeking an urgent meeting with the Queensland Government to stop the proposal," he said.
"The proposal to introduce COVID-19 testing into Queensland pharmacies is extremely dangerous and risks plunging Queensland into a catastrophic outbreak similar to that being currently experienced in Victoria.
"Pharmacies are primarily retail spaces that are not designed to be infectious disease testing centres and our grave concern is that the proposal to allow pharmacies to conduct COVID-19 testing will compel potentially infected people to enter an environment where they will interact with pharmacy staff and customers, many of whom are elderly, sick or immunocompromised.
"While the Queensland Government may assert that pharmacy staff will be provided with adequate training and personal protective equipment, we've seen that even with highly trained medical staff adhering to strict infectious disease protocols, COVID-19 has successfully infected large numbers of health workers.
"This is a health disaster waiting to happen and we urge the Queensland Government to immediately abandon this proposal."
March also reiterated calls for pharmacy staff who have used up sick leave entitlements to be awarded paid pandemic leave, if they are required to isolate as a result of the virus.
"Pharmacy workers expose themselves daily to health risks serving the public during the pandemic in order to carry out their vitally important work," he said.
"Now, these workers are being asked to take further serious health risks by testing patients potentially infected by COVID-19 and they are still being denied paid pandemic leave if they become sick or are required to self-isolate as a result of being tested for COVID-19.
"As the Victorian example has demonstrated, supporting workers who've been infected or are awaiting test results to stay home is a key weapon in our fight against COVID-19 and we will continue advocating for the introduction of paid pandemic leave for nation's pharmacy workers."
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 17 Aug 20
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