Pharmacists Prescribing in Australia: Evidence and Perspectives

CAM538, Assignment 1
CAM538
TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH AND HEALTH SCIENCE INNOVATION
Assignment 2: Pharmacists Prescribing
By Your Name
Pages:
15 Pages (including cover page and references)
Word Count
Approximately 2100 words (excluding in-text citations, tables, and references)

CAM538, Assignment 2
Background: Why Pharmacists Prescribing?
Prescribing by pharmacists is an established practice in many countries such as the USA, UK,
Canada, and New Zealand (Nissen et al. 2017). These countries find the practice appropriate and
beneficial because it improves access to medications and enhances the appropriate use of
healthcare resources without jeopardizing patient safety (Hale et al. 2016; Hanna et al. 2014;
Nissen et al. 2017). In the UK for instance, more than 90% of resident medical staff support the
use of pharmacist-led recommendations (Bourne, Baqir, & Onatade 2016). The interventions
have been deemed clinically safe and appropriate. With support from other professions,
pharmacists prescribing are pivotal in addressing the future needs of patients in the UK.
The widespread recognition is based on the fact that pharmacists are experts in medicines and
poisons. Their knowledge can be used to enhance safe medication practices. Patients also report
satisfaction and trust pharmacists prescribing and consultations (Hale et al. 2016; Hanna et al.
2014; McCann et al. 2015; Zhou et al. 2016). They, patients, report enhanced access to
pharmaceutical products when pharmacists prescribe.
In Australia, however, pharmacists continue to experience prescribing limitations (Bajorek et al.,
2015; Broom et al. 2015; Hale et al. 2016; Hanna et al. 2014; Nissen et al. 2017). But as their
colleagues in other country get the power to prescribe, Australian pharmacists have expressed a
desire for a role expansion. In order to make an informed decision on whether Australian
pharmacists should be allowed to prescribe, evidence on their prescribing competencies, accrued
benefits, and implications on practice need to be assessed. This report, therefore, attempts to
explore evidence relevant to pharmacists prescribing with a primary focus on Australia.

CAM538, Assignment 3
Part A: Pharmacists Prescribing in Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia has a large and diverse health workforce such as physicians
(medical practitioners), nurses, dentists, midwives, psychologists, physiotherapists, osteopaths,
podiatrists, chiropractors, optometrists, medical radiation practitioners, Chinese medicine
practitioners, indigenous health practitioners, and pharmacists (Moles & Stehlik 2015). However,
only authorized practitioners with appropriate training and accreditation such as physicians,
dentists, nurses, midwives, podiatrists, and optometrists can prescribe medicines to patients.
Pharmacists, on the other hand, are only allowed to supply drugs to a patient as ordered by the
medical practitioners (Moles & Stehlik 2015). They can also refill stocks in addition to releasing
selected over-the-counter drugs.
The limitations exist despite the intensive education pharmacists undertake before they allowed
to practice. Students must first complete a Bachelor of Pharmacy from an institution accredited
by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), or a two-year Master of Pharmacy (Moles & Stehlik
2015). This is followed by another year of APC supervised internship in an approved
organization. Afterward, the student must undertake a written exam followed by an oral
assessment overseen by the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA). If successful in both
examinations, the student applies to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
(AHPRA). As of 2010, registered pharmacists must complete and document at least forty credits
of continuing professional developments, annually (Moles & Stehlik 2015).
The National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia (NCSFP) also
recognizes the training, education, and competencies of pharmacists (Moles & Stehlik 2015).
NCSFP stipulates pharmacists have the skills required to improve medical outcomes especially
by reducing medication errors. Their sound pharmaceutical knowledge plays a vital role in the

CAM538, Assignment 4
promotion of patient-centered care. Also, they have practical problem solving, communication,
and interpersonal skills needed to facilitate patient-centered care. Regardless of these
qualifications, the isolation of pharmacists from the rest of the healthcare and limiting their scope
of practice to medications custody, preparation, and dispensing, persists.
Owing to their professional education, training, ethics, and work attitude, the Health Workforce
Australia (HWA) Health Professionals Prescribing Pathway (HPPP) Project in 2013 started a
campaign that would grant pharmacists prescription powers (Hale et al. 2016). After an intensive
discussion with my colleagues on this endeavor, several interesting themes emerged.
Pharmacists in Australia are frustrated with the restriction and are willing to seek the necessary
accreditation to prove their prescribing competencies. They can play a more extended and
integrated role in the translation of research into practice. Their expertise in medicines positions
them as the most appropriate profession to prescribe as well as manage patient’s medications.
Besides, doctors’ availability in clinical settings is less compared to pharmacists. Physicians are
also hardly available at night or during weekends. Pharmacists are, however, available during
odd hours such as late nights and on weekdays. Because pharmacists have received
comprehensive training on pharmaceuticals, it was strongly agreed they have the required
competencies to prescribe medicines to incoming patients, particularly those with minor
ailments.
The beliefs concede with Freeman et al. (2016), pharmacists have the clinical competencies
required to reduce healthcare fragmentation, improve care delivery by enhancing medication
management, in addition to strengthening communication between patients and other
practitioners. Their role in clinical translation is vital because medication reconciliation is vital in
the improvement of medical and patient outcomes (Bourne et al. 2015; Broom et al. 2015;