Pharmacy Daily | GPs open to crisis dispensing changes

GENERAL practitioners would welcome discussions on ways to bolster patients' access to medications during emergency situations.

Royal Australian Collage of General Practitioners (RACGP) President, Dr Harry Nespolon, told Pharmacy Daily that the organisation backed the current emergency dispensing measures in bushfire affected parts of NSW and Queensland, announced by the Department of Health on Tue.

However, he said the RACGP would be open to the possibility of granting pharmacists greater autonomy to dispense Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listed medicines during major crises.

"There are already state and territory and national schemes in place to allow for the emergency supply of prescription medication," he said.

"This allows patients to access these medicines where it's not practical to obtain a prescription.

"I welcome discussion on any proposals designed to ensure those impacted by emergencies such as the catastrophic bushfires have access to the medication they need.

"However, we must of course be vigilant that any changes don't disrupt continuity of care or jeopardise patient health."

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia National President, Dr Chris Freeman suggested that pharmacists should be given the authority to dispense "at least a month's supply of medicines" in emergency situations (PD yesterday).

Freeman added that current state and territory legislation rules around dispensing could impede pharmacists from ensuring continuity of medicines supply.