http://www.pharmacynews.com.au/articles/Pharmacists-want-prescribing-rights_z487740.htm
Pharmacists want prescribing rights
Health authorities are again facing calls for pharmacists to be given the power to prescribe as well as dispense medications.
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The president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), Warwick Plunkett, said it was time pharmacists were given prescribing rights similar to what the Federal Government granted nurses and midwives in the May Budget.
Mr Plunkett said pharmacists were ideally placed to prescribe because of their detailed knowledge of medications and their face-to-face interaction with consumers.
"Pharmacists are guided by the principles of quality use of medicines and securing the optimum health outcomes for consumers and these are fundamental to the guidelines for prescribing," Mr Plunkett said.
"In most cases the process has largely been driven by each health professional group and implemented on an ad hoc basis without the opportunity to consider uniformity, common goals and core principles across all health professions. It is time to formally consider prescribing by pharmacists and other non-medical health professionals as a major initiative to help facilitate a more efficient and effective health system."
Pharmacists in Victoria recently received the legislative authority to issue the antiviral Tamiflu on a temporary basis as an emergency response to the swine flu outbreak.
However, Mr Plunkett called for permanent prescribing rights, provided there was a clear delineation between pharmacists' prescribing and dispensing functions and patient safety and access to medication was enhanced.
"The PSA believes such a framework must be focused on consumers and be underpinned by a primary concern for the delivery of safe and high-quality care," he said.
"It must also enhance the timely access to medicines and to maintaining a continuity of care, as well as promoting the quality use of medicines."
24-Jun-2009
Pharmacists want prescribing rights
Health authorities are again facing calls for pharmacists to be given the power to prescribe as well as dispense medications.
Click here to find out more!
The president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), Warwick Plunkett, said it was time pharmacists were given prescribing rights similar to what the Federal Government granted nurses and midwives in the May Budget.
Mr Plunkett said pharmacists were ideally placed to prescribe because of their detailed knowledge of medications and their face-to-face interaction with consumers.
"Pharmacists are guided by the principles of quality use of medicines and securing the optimum health outcomes for consumers and these are fundamental to the guidelines for prescribing," Mr Plunkett said.
"In most cases the process has largely been driven by each health professional group and implemented on an ad hoc basis without the opportunity to consider uniformity, common goals and core principles across all health professions. It is time to formally consider prescribing by pharmacists and other non-medical health professionals as a major initiative to help facilitate a more efficient and effective health system."
Pharmacists in Victoria recently received the legislative authority to issue the antiviral Tamiflu on a temporary basis as an emergency response to the swine flu outbreak.
However, Mr Plunkett called for permanent prescribing rights, provided there was a clear delineation between pharmacists' prescribing and dispensing functions and patient safety and access to medication was enhanced.
"The PSA believes such a framework must be focused on consumers and be underpinned by a primary concern for the delivery of safe and high-quality care," he said.
"It must also enhance the timely access to medicines and to maintaining a continuity of care, as well as promoting the quality use of medicines."
24-Jun-2009