NSW Pharmacy Guild President David Heffernan has accused the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners of an "extraordinary attack on community pharmacy," claiming the doctors' group appears to see advancing its members as attacking other professions.
In his monthly member update Heffernan blasted recent assertions by the RACGP that Australians who use pharmacy-run health checks present long-term dangers to their health as "an absurd, unfounded and somewhat desperate claim".
Heffernan noted that the RACGP only represents a small proportion of GPs, adding that "there exists a financially beneficial gravitas for GPs to fill their books with appointments for minor ailments" while marginalising sicker patients to the public hospital system.
He said allowing pharmacists to broaden their scope of practice would lower the burden on the hospital system and Medicare.
"Increased collaboration by the RACGP with not only pharmacists but other allied health would be a more pragmatic approach rather than puerile claims on pharmacy medical checks," he concluded.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 19 Jul 18
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 19 Jul 18