Pharmacy the answer to GP shortage

AUSTRALIAN pharmacists need to be empowered to work to their full scope of practice to avert a healthcare crisis in the years ahead the Pharmacy Guild of Australia believes.

Commenting on the findings of the Deloitte General Practitioner Workforce Report 2019, which has forecast a shortfall of 9,298 GPs over the next 10 years, Guild National President, George Tambassis, warned patients’ out-ofpocket costs are likely to increase.

“With Deloitte forecasting such a severe GP shortage, it highlights the need to better use resources already in our health system to improve affordability and accessibility for all Australians,” he said.

“Empowering pharmacists to take on a greater role in the healthcare system by doing things like giving more vaccinations, issuing repeat prescriptions for things like blood pressure and treating common ailments like asthma and migraine would relieve some of the pressure on already overworked GPs.

“In countries such as the UK and Canada, pharmacists are playing a greater role in their healthcare systems, which has reduced strain on overworked GPs and overcrowded emergency departments, made access easier and more affordable, while improving health outcomes.

“We’ve been saying for some time Australians are waiting longer and paying more to see a GP. Our health system just isn’t adapting as effectively as possible to our aging and growing population.

“Deloitte’s report underlines why we need to make better use of pharmacists to help relieve some of the stresses and strains on our health system just by using our training to the full.”

The Deloitte report forecasts that Victoria will be the most severely impacted by the shortages, with a shortfall of almost 3,900, followed by NSW (3,400), with the Northern Territory the only region expected to see an increase in GP numbers over the coming decade, with 155 extra GPs due to join the Territory’s workforce by 2030.