Giving pharmacists a bigger role in treatment is ‘shifting the deck chairs around’

RACGP President Doctor Nicole Higgins says pharmacists being allowed more diagnostic and treatment capabilities won’t ease pressure off doctors. General Practitioners have raised concerns over a plan to expand the role of pharmacists in New South Wales which allows them to treat a range of conditions that would normally require a doctor’s opinion. “This has been done to address access,” Dr Higgins told Sky News Australia. “Maccas is easy access, but its not necessarily healthy for you. “We need to make sure we invest in the system from the bottom up not just keep shifting the deck chairs around.”