Sick-leave tickets a plus

COMMUNITY pharmacists take their responsibili es under the Act seriously, and should at all mes comply with guidelines jointly developed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Pharmaceu cal Society of Australia, the Guild has said in a formal statement.

The Guild was responding to a warning from peak employer body the Australian Industry Group (AIG) which earlier this week expressed scep cism about the validity of absence‐from‐work cer ficates issued by pharmacists ‐ and mainstream media reports cri cising adver sing of $20 sick notes from Chemist Warehouse.

Guild president George Tambassis noted that the Fair Work Act has made pharmacist‐generated cer ficates legal for almost a decade.

“Under the guidelines, the issuing of an absence from work cer ficate must be within the scope of prac ce of the pharmacist, ac ng within their competency and professional exper se.

“Pharmacists need to carefully consider whether or not the illness or injury that is the subject of the cer ficate is within their recognised area of prac ce,” Tambassis said.

“Given the wai ng me that might be required for a doctor’s appointment, the fact that workers who are legi mately ill or injured can obtain an absence from work cer ficate more conveniently at a pharmacy is actually a plus for produc vity, not a minus,” he said.