PRICELINE Pharmacy is rejecting criticism of its Scripts Now telehealth service from claims by Australian Medical Association (AMA) President, Dr Tony Bartone, that it is putting convenience over quality.
Bartone hit out at both Priceline and Chemist Warehouse for their GP consultation services they are offering, in an interview with The Australian, noting the Chemist Warehouse Instant Consult model has been marketed as a bulk-billed service.
"Some of these services are simply opportunistic and are clearly seeking to fully exploit the options available in the current legislation to the maximum financial gain," he said.
"These are services focusing totally on convenience and access and putting questions about quality and long-term best interests of the patient as a second or even third distant consideration."
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) President, Dr Harry Nespolon, also expressed concerns over "the inappropriate and unapproved use of patient data, both during and after a consult".
"The Priceline 'Scripts Now' service is a recipe for disaster," Nespolon said.
"This service, like the corporate telehealth pop-ups, risks jeopardising your medical records and compromising your health in coming months or later in life."
A spokesperson for the Australian Pharmaceutical Industries-owned Priceline group told Pharmacy Daily that the Scripts Now service was provided on a fee-for-service basis, without access to Medicare, and was available as a "safe repeat prescription services at times they cannot access their usual GP".
"The types of scripts provided and volume are strictly limited, as is the frequency with which Scripts Now can be accessed," the spokesperson said.
"The service is provided by Australian registered doctors who review every request before deciding whether or not to issue a prescription.
"We remain confident this is a safe and valuable service for our customers provided by qualified doctors.
"Patient care is always the focus and an online doctor is available for phone or video consultation.
"A consultation can be billed to Medicare, if it meets the Medicare Benefits Schedule criteria.
"To date, the Scripts Now service has not billed any consultations to Medicare."
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