Pharmacy Daily | AMA shy on why of pharmacy push

CALLS for pharmacy ownership rules to be reformed to allow doctors to own pharmacies fail to explain why it would benefit patients, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia says.

Responding to the Australian Medical Association (AMA) Position Statement on the Ethical Guidelines on Ownership of Pharmacy and Dispensing by Doctors 2019, a Guild spokesperson told Pharmacy Daily that the doctors' group had "missed the fundamental question: why?" in its push to access pharmacy ownership.

Announcing the new statement, which replaces the AMA Position Statement on the Ethical Guidelines for Doctors on Addressing Potential Conflicts of Interest in Owning a Pharmacy 2010 - Revised 2015, AMA President, Dr Tony Bartone, said enabling doctors to own pharmacies would be beneficial for patients.

"Relaxing pharmacy ownership laws would improve patient access to medications," he said.

For instance, the AMA believes patient access and convenience in obtaining medications can be improved by doctors being permitted to own pharmacies, provided such ownership is managed ethically, addresses conflicts of interests, and maintains the clear distinction between prescribing and dispensing.

"The AMA guidelines have been updated to assist doctors who have a direct financial interest in a pharmacy to manage potential conflicts of interest, to maintain their patients' trust, and to preserve public confidence in the wider medical profession."

The Guild spokesperson suggested that the AMA should focus on issues that directly impact doctors rather than taking aim a the pharmacy sector.

"We categorically reject Bartone's assertion that 'relaxing pharmacy ownership laws would improve patient access to medications'," the spokesperson said.

"Australian patients trust their local pharmacist and there is widespread documented support for the requirement that only a pharmacist can own a pharmacy.

"The pity is that any Tom, Dick or Harriett can own a medical practice -- how about producing a paper on that, AMA?"

Pharmacists on Twitter have suggested the AMA should support pharmacists to open pharmacies in GP clinics to aid collaboration and improve medicines safety.