CLAIMS that hundreds of patients, including a number of pregnant women, treated by pharmacists as part of the Urinary Tract Infection Pharmacy Pilot - Queensland (UTIPP-Q) experienced complications, are "false" the Pharmacy Guild of Australia says.
The Australian Medical Association Queensland Branch (AMAQ), released the findings of its Survey Report UTIPP-Q and North Queensland Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot (NQPSPP), reporting that "at least 240 patients treated by pharmacists (as part of the UTIPP-Q) suffered complications from misdiagnosis".
AMAQ President, Professor Chris Perry, accused the State Government of being "careless with patient health in this UTI pilot", raising concerns that no evaluation of the program has been released to date.
"Women did not receive the care they needed and an alarming number became more ill due to their participation in the trial," Perry said.
"Bizarrely, three doctors reported seeing men with complications, despite the pilot being specifically limited to 'uncomplicated cystitis in non-pregnant women'.
"At least six pregnant women were sold antibiotics that are unsafe in the first trimester.
"One of them had a potentially life-threatening ectopic pregnancy.
"At least nine patients ended up in hospital with sepsis or kidney and bladder infections due to ineffective or delayed treatment.
"Doctors had no way to report adverse outcomes to those overseeing the pilot.
"The only option was to report the individual pharmacist to the Office of the Health Ombudsman -- in effect, blaming the pharmacist for the scheme's failings without being able to alert the scheme's designers to its flaws and risks to patient safety."
A spokesperson for the Guild's Queensland Branch told Pharmacy Daily that the AMAQ had attempted to "scare women about a safe and effective treatment option for an uncomplicated UTI", with "totally false claims".
"The pilot has been safely and successfully running since 2019," the spokesperson said.
"Only after the AMAQ pulled out of another pilot (the NQPSPP) did they start to bring forward unfounded allegations for their own internal political purposes.
"It must be getting close to election time at the AMAQ.
"Patients don't want a turf war, they want safe and effective high-quality primary health care, but the AMAQ seems addicted to ancient turf wars instead of patient care.
"Pharmacists follow the same UTI protocol as doctors.
"As part of the protocol, if someone has unresolved symptoms 48 hours after commencing treatment, they are referred to a GP."
Queensland Health has previously described the UTIPP-Q as "a great success" (PD 31 Jan).
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