Tasmanian families would have greater access to healthcare services through local pharmacies under a state election promise by the Liberals to expand treatments and extend operating hours.
The initiative aims to ease pressure on GPs and emergency departments while providing more convenient healthcare options for families, particularly during after-hours periods.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the government would build on its successful urinary tract infection treatment program by allowing pharmacists to treat additional common conditions.
“We are going to build on this initiative and further expand the treatments that pharmacists can provide to include common conditions such as ear infections, reflux, skin conditions such as shingles and eczema, rhinitis and wound care,” Rockliff said.
“This will free up thousands more GP appointments, reduce pressure on our emergency departments and save Tasmanian families time and money.”
The Liberals have promised support for pharmacies to extend their operating hours into evenings and weekends through a new grants program.
“Many parents know the struggle of having an unwell child at all hours of the night, and expanding after-hours care will ensure families can buy pain relief, cough syrup, or fill a script when and where they need to,” the Premier said.
AMA Tasmania President Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel has described the promise as “dangerous”.
“Politicians keep looking for quick and cheap fixes to a problem, but no matter what they say, it is putting patient safety at risk,” he said.
“Pharmacists are not doctors. They should not be diagnosing conditions, which can look superficial but instead be a pointer to something more serious that requires years of study and practice to understand.”
“Added to this, letting someone prescribe and profit from the same medicine is a clear conflict of interest. For decades, Australia has kept pharmacy and general practice separate for a reason.”
