The Liberals have announced a move they say will facilitate better health care by utilising pharmacies. Premier Jeremy Rockliff said they would expand the treatments that pharmacists can treat as well as support extended hours.
Doctors however describe it as “dangerous.”
“Pharmacists are not doctors,” said AMA Tasmania President Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel. “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.”
Read their statements below.
Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, 14 June 2025
More services, open for longer to support families
Late-night trips to the pharmacy and fewer trips to the GP will make the lives of thousands of Tasmanian families easier, with pharmacies playing an important part as we build a better Tasmania.
A re-elected Tasmanian Liberal Government will continue to expand access to healthcare by upskilling and better utilising community pharmacies to treat more Tasmanians and provide support that enables pharmacies to open for longer at night and on weekends.
Premier, Jeremy Rockliff, said the Liberal Government’s innovative program to save Tasmanians time and money by attending a pharmacy to treat urinary tract infections was delivering significant benefits for Tasmanian families.
“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,” Premier Rockliff said.
“This will free up thousands more GP appointments, reduce pressure on our emergency departments and save Tasmanian families time and money.
A re-elected Liberal Government will also ensure Tasmanian families who need health care late at night or on weekends have greater access by supporting community pharmacies to extend their operating hours.
“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.
“We have previously provided support to enable pharmacies to extend their hours or employ additional staff to help meet increasing demand. Now, community pharmacies can apply for grants to extend their hours later at night or over the weekends.
“Our pharmacists are trusted, frontline health professionals who are essential to our local communities, and their role has never been more vital.
“The Tasmanian Liberal Government is building a better health system, and innovating programs like this are providing families with greater certainty over their health care options during times they need it the most.”
The Tasmanian Liberal Government has already committed $5 million to help pharmacists achieve full scope of practice credentials so that they can treat more common conditions.
Our Government is building a better Tasmania, now and for the future, and our plan is delivering a better health system for all Tasmanians.
Media release – Australian Medical Association, 14 June 2025
Today’s Liberal election promise to expand the role of pharmacists is 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.
This is another example of politicians not understanding medicine and the role of a doctor and the role of a pharmacist.
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.
Doctors prescribe. Pharmacists dispense.
That line is now being crossed and as a result in Tasmania and across the country, we’re watching patients’ safety been harmed.
We want collaboration with health professionals whether they be pharmacists, nurse practitioners or other roles. But that requires funding.
When pharmacists work with doctors that builds in additional safety which we recognise and value.
We want to increase access to general practice, but that requires funding.
The money is there, it keeps being directed to pharmacy over and above general practice.
Governments both state and federal need to invest in doctors, and put patients first.
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