Meanwhile, in a rare show of unity, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is joining the RACGP in calls for better funding for practice-based pharmacists.
While the majority of pharmacists believe extended scope of practice is necessary for the future viability of the profession, there are differing opinions on whether that should extend to initiation of chronic disease management.
According to the 2024 University of Technology Sydney community pharmacy barometer, just under two thirds of the 360 responding pharmacists considered expanded scope as vital to the future professional and economic viability of pharmacy.
“The vast majority of pharmacists believe that the expansion of their scope of practice is beneficial for their future,” Pharmaceutical Society of Australia director Warwick Plunkett said.
“While some are unsure whether it will make a significant difference, very few are saying that it is the wrong direction.”
Only 5% disagreed that expanded scope was the way forward, while one in three remained neutral.
These figures held true for questions on whether scope should be expanded to include “maintenance of therapy” – i.e. continuation of GP-initiated therapies – in chronic disease management and whether scope should be expanded to include treatment of common conditions like UTI, URTI and reflux.
Attitudes shifted, however, when asked whether scope should be expanded to include initiation of chronic disease therapy for conditions like asthma and hypertension.
Around 40% of respondents were in favour, 17% were against and the remaining 42% were neutral.
Related
Three quarters of respondents had taken part in a scope of practice trial, with UTI treatment being the most common experience (70%), followed by oral contraceptives (50%), dermatology (20%) and chronic disease (8%).
“The level of non-participation combined with a third of pharmacists who are neutral, would indicate that there is a significant group who are not convinced regarding expanded scope,” UTS adjunct professor John Montgomery said.
Scope expansion appears unlikely to slow down any time soon, with the University of WA launching the country’s first Doctor of Pharmacy Practice degree.
The program, which is run online, takes one year to complete.
Graduates will be prepared to deliver medication management reviews, aged care pharmacy services, diabetes education and prescribing capabilities.
Elsewhere in the primary health sector, though, pharmacists and GPs have set their sights on expanding multidisciplinary care teams.
The RACGP and the PSA have today called for more funding to allow non-dispensing pharmacists to work in GP practices, a move which the RACGP said will deliver up to $545 million in savings to the health system through reduced medicines use.
“Practice-based pharmacists can talk to patients about how their medication works and educate them about safe use,” college president Dr Michael Wright said.
“Where a medication is no longer necessary, a pharmacist can identify opportunities to deprescribe.
“That support is especially valuable for older patients, who too often are admitted to hospital due to adverse drug events, and benefit from clear communication and an optimal medicine regimen as they transition into aged care.”
PSA president Associate Professor Fei Sim said pharmacists embedded in GP clinics would help achieve “true patient-centred care”.
