Advisory groups can be tokenistic, but they can also be the only route to information.
Last week, NSW rural generalist Dr David Leaf made ripples when he told ABC Radio Sydney that he had resigned from the state’s expert advisory group for pharmacist-led prescribing, citing what he saw as “unreasonable” conclusions based on the level of evidence.
He described feeling as though the experts assembled in the advisory group were simply “there to be ticked off as ‘attended’”, rather than listened to.
The sentiment struck home for many GPs, but perhaps more so for Campbelltown GP Dr Ken McCroary – one of the remaining GPs on the NSW Ministry of Health joint pharmacy and medical peak body team.
“[Dr Leaf’s] quotes resonate with [my experience of the] meetings I’ve been to as well,” Dr McCroary told The Medical Republic.
“His experience is not unique … it’s how they roll, which is really disappointing. [It feels like] patient outcomes and health measures aren’t the priority, the priority is … the next election.
“I want leaders in parliament. I don’t want clowns making decisions based upon the electoral cycle, particularly in in health. It’s bigger than them. It’s bigger than me. It’s bigger than the lobbyists.
“It’s about the actual morbidity and mortality of people that are voting.”
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Dr McCroary said that when the group met to discuss the University of Newcastle evaluations of pharmacist-led prescribing programs, feedback was “listened to and heard” – only for the health department to continue rolling out the trials.
“When I talk to other members of the committees and the review process teams, the feedback is ubiquitous; they don’t listen to us, they do what they want to do, regardless,” he said.
“They’ve already got the plan and go ahead, no matter what we discuss, no matter what the concerns are, no matter what the outcome data, safety concerns, cost concerns are, they will barrel through and go ahead with it.”
When asked why he felt it was important to stay a member of these groups anyway, Dr McCroary paused before replying.
“If we’re not [there], we find out what’s happening through media releases and grabs on the news,” he said.
“No one gets a heads up about what’s changing, what laws are changing, how our patients would be impacted, or anything. If we’re not there, we don’t know what’s going on.”
The Campbelltown GP stressed that his frustration was not with his community pharmacy colleagues, but with the corporate interests represented by lobbying groups.
For its part, NSW Health said it had convened an expert advisory group to provide independent advice to the Chief Health Officer on the expanded scope of community pharmacy services.
“The group includes medical specialists (including general practitioners), community pharmacists, hospital pharmacists, and the NSW Chief Pharmacist,” a spokesperson told TMR.
“NSW Health acknowledges the expertise and experience of the group’s members and values their different perspectives on how community pharmacy services can be safely expanded in NSW.
“While the group has provided advice on matters within its remit, the NSW Government considers advice and information from a range of stakeholders and sources when developing public policy.”
