The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is backing calls by physiotherapists and other allied health professionals in working to their full skills and training to help more patients.
It follows public comments by the Australian Physiotherapy Association that all allied health professionals working to their full scope of practice benefits patients, the health system and the economy.
Pharmacy Guild National President, Professor Trent Twomey says physiotherapists, like pharmacists, can do much more for their patients.
“Physiotherapists working to their full scope of practice to treat patients with musculoskeletal conditions is just one example of how we can improve and streamline the healthcare system,” Professor Twomey said.
He also congratulated the Albanese Government for launching the Cormack Review to investigate ways of unleashing the health workforce to streamline the health system to improve patient access and treatment.
“As Health Minister Mark Butler acknowledged only recently, pharmacists have long been calling for a shake up of the health system to improve waiting times and hospital access.
“Like nurses and physiotherapists, pharmacists stand ready to deliver more services for patients.
“We already have pharmacists in training in Queensland to treat and diagnose 23 everyday health conditions to unclog that state’s health system.
“New South Wales is committed to following Queensland’s lead across the 23 conditions and only this month, South Australia gave the greenlight for pharmacists treat and diagnose women with uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).” said Professor Twomey.
He also said this would not be a burden on taxpayers because health professionals working to their full skill set only needs legislative change, not billions of dollars in extra public funds.
“We’ve done the homework on this. Pharmacists, physiotherapists, and other health professionals working to their full scope will not only save patients time and convenience, but it will also save billions of taxpayers’ dollars too.”
