Pharmacy Daily | UTIPP-Q extension criticised by Docs

MOVES by the Queensland State Government to extend the Urinary Tract Infection Pharmacy Pilot - Queensland (UTIPP-Q) could expose women to a "wide range of health repercussions" medical groups believe.

In a joint statement released this morning the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) criticised the decision that will allow participating pharmacies in Queensland to dispense medications to eligible patients without the need for a prescription, until 30 Jun.

As of 02 Dec 2021, more than 6,300 patients had accessed the service through 819 pharmacies across the state (PD 13 Jan).

However, USANZ Vice President, Professor Helen O'Connell, said treatment of patients presenting with symptoms associated with UTIs, without a medical consultation, could lead to cases of more serious conditions being missed.

"It does not represent best practice for women to simply attend a pharmacist with symptoms which may or may not be bacteria and receive antibiotics, which may not treat the bacteria present due to resistance," she said.

"The symptoms of a UTI are common to a number of serious health issues, including bladder cancer, which is why correct diagnosis of a UTI is necessary to rule out other potential serious health issues.

"An overhaul of the management of UTIs and recurrent UTIs is welcomed by USANZ but this pilot falls well short of meeting those needs and risks harm to women.

"Why should a common condition in women be redirected from medical care without long term proof of its safety?"

RACGP President, Dr Karen Price, said the move to extend the trial was not backed by evidence.

"The RACGP has deep concerns about moves by the retail pharmacy sector to push through policy changes that put financial gains ahead of patient care and safety," she said.

"One of the main problems here is that this trial is effectively an implementation trial. It's not research on best practice and the results of the trial should be made publicly available."