PPA concerned by COVID PoC testing
UNION group, Professional Pharmacists Australia (PPA), is concerned moves to enable community pharmacies to provide point-of-care (PoC) COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) could increase employee pharmacists’ risk of contracting the virus.
Responding to updated advice on PoC tests issued by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) last week, which pave the way for pharmacists to perform or supervise testing, PPA CEO, Jill McCabe, warned testing in pharmacies could expose staff and customers to COVID-19.
“Employee pharmacists have been blindsided by the TGA’s decision, which clears the way for rapid antigen PoC testing for coronavirus, including screening for members of the general public, to be conducted in community pharmacies,” she said.
“Although the TGA has approved this form of testing, it has acknowledged the serious risk this poses to pharmacy staff and the wider community, stating on its website that people with symptoms or who are potentially infectious are ‘strongly advised’ not to visit their local pharmacy due to the risk of infecting others.
“Unlike dedicated COVID-19 testing centres with trained staff wearing full PPE, strict mask and other health and safety protocols, we don’t believe community pharmacies are adequately designed or equipped to take on testing for COVID-19.
“This poses too great a risk to staff in community pharmacies and to people seeking health care through their pharmacy.
“We are very concerned by this decision, which was made without proper consultation, and urge the TGA to reconsider.”
Meanwhile, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia has previously backed the approval of PoC testing in pharmacies, with guidelines issued in Oct 2021 stating that pharmacies wishing to provide the service would “need to consider all aspects associated with providing a testing service including policies and procedures relating to personal protective equipment and infection control, staff training, resources, and costs”.
“The consideration of risks and implications of infection of their staff and other consumers including impacts on the continuity of access to medicines is particularly important,” the Guild said.