FOR the first time in Australia, Queensland pharmacists can now swap a medicine for a suitable alternative without needing a doctor's approval, to help solve medicine-related issues.
An update to the Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021 (Qld) on 01 Jul specifies that a pharmacist who is dispensing a medicine for a patient "may dispense an equivalent medicine as a substitute to the original medicine stated on the prescription where this is reasonably necessary for the therapeutic treatment of the patient".
An equivalent medicine is one that appears on the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 register for the same indication as the original medicine, and shares the same (or "substantially similar") chemical composition or pharmacological mechanism of action.
It must also be supplied in a dose and for a duration of treatment intended to achieve a therapeutic effect equivalent to that of the original medicine, and cannot be a restricted medicine or diversion-risk medicine.
The pharmacist must first amend the prescription in accordance with section 117B in order to dispense an equivalent medicine.
"PSA advocated for this strongly in our submission to the consultation on the amendments to the medicines and poisons regulation," PSA Qld State Manager, Karen Castle told Australian Pharmacist.
"These activities are well within the scope of any pharmacist, and we shouldn't have to do any additional training to be able to do this."
Castle said that while the new regulation does mean more responsibilty for pharmacists, it also generates several advantages.
"Patients benefit by having their medicine-problem resolved on-the-spot in the pharmacy, taxpayers benefit in reduced Medicare billing, and pharmacists benefit via increased autonomy." JM
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