In a bold move, the Pharmacy Guild has proposed a model that sees pharmacists working alongside – in some instances replacing – GPs (in Australia) in treating patients for some minor ailments.
Of course, GPs are not terribly pleased with the news, and the guild has been asked to be more specific about which ailments it suggests pharmacists treat.
Opponents state that training in pharmacology, while substantial, does not adequately cover more complex aetiologies (as well as comorbidities) and the therapeutics associated with them.
The guild claims that in the treatment of minor ailments, pharmacists are more than adequately trained and it will actually benefit doctors and make better use of the resources available to them.
Those opposed to the model further claim that a minor ailment might not always be minor, and without the education GPs in Australia undergo, what might be at first a “minor” concern could mask something more serious and this could be missed by pharmacists. Only with the specialist training that doctors receive, can a serious health concern be diagnosed.
When attending your local GP for something like a common cold, it could safely be argued that it’s better than heading to the emergency department of the hospital. However, if a pharmacist could perform the tasks a GP would normally carry out, such as taking a temperature and checking ears/noses/throats, then surely a recommendation for analgesics is within the realms of their capabilities?
If the pharmacist decides the GP needs to be called for then that could be passed on to the patient. Patient treatments given by a pharmacist would be strictly monitored and controlled; further testing such as bloods or scans would be referred back to the GP.
Other basic health issues such as athlete’s foot or haemorrhoids, headaches or worms, can be dealt with by your local pharmacist. In some countries, chemists run walk-in centres that deal specifically with minor complaints. Some argue that this is already occurring in Australia: patients see their pharmacists for minor complains in an effort to circumvent the GP and access fast treatment. Waiting a short time to speak to a pharmacist is better than making an appointment for a GP who is chronically running late (and who will refer you to a chemist for a medication).
If you’re planning to work as a GP in Australia, what do you think of the new model proposed by the Pharmacy Guild? Would you be happy to have a pharmacist relieve you of some of your workload? Are you perhaps moving from a country that already has this scheme in place? If you are interested in working in Australia, please browse our selection of doctor jobs in some of Australia’s most beautiful locations!