CLP election proposal risks the health of Territorians

The Country Liberal Party’s proposal allowing pharmacists to treat 21 conditions if elected risks the health of Territorians, including misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment, warns the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP). 

The RACGP has written to the CLP to warn against the proposal, which would allow pharmacists to provide drugs for 21 conditions without a GP diagnosing and prescribing them to a patient. This contravenes Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rules for medicines designed to protect the health of Australians. 

RACGP Northern Territory Chair Dr Sam Heard said GPs in the Northern Territory are extremely concerned. 

“The Country Liberals haven't consulted GPs in the Northern Territory, and we are extremely concerned that there has been no consideration given to the potential risks to peoples’ health – including incorrect and missed diagnosis, and incorrect treatment,” he said.  

“Patients don’t present with a diagnosis, they just have symptoms, which might be any number of conditions. For example, the symptoms of a UTI are similar to symptoms for pregnancy, STIs, cancer and undiagnosed diabetes. 

“Diagnosing a patient is difficult, which is why GPs train for over 10 years. Pharmacists play an important role in dispensing and giving advice on medicines but they are not trained to diagnose patients.  

“The risks associated with this approach were seen in Queensland, where a survey of more than 1,300 doctors found more than 240 cases of misdiagnosis associated with the North Queensland UTI Pharmacy Prescribing Trial. At least nine patients needed hospitalisation relating to ineffective or delayed medical treatment.  

“We’re especially concerned by the number of conditions in the list requiring treatment with antibiotics. Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics increases the risk of antibiotic resistance in the community. When this happens, simple infections can become life threatening. This is not something we can risk in the Northern Territory. The broader scope of practice for nurses and Aboriginal health practitioners that we have in the NT is already resulting in antibiotic resistance. Over the counter supply of antibiotics will make it much worse.  

“Making prescription medicines easier to access should not be prioritised over access to high quality general practice care for NT patients and families. The RACGP is keen to discuss real solutions to improve access to GPs in the Northern Territory with the Country Liberals. 

“The RACGP encourages the next Territory government to focus on improving access to high quality general practice care for Territorians and ensuring the sustainability of general practice. Territorians deserve high quality primary healthcare that they can trust, not bandaid solutions that risk peoples health.”