Pharmacists may be given power to prescribe medicine

Pharmacists could soon be given the power to prescribe certain medicines, something most pharmacists are keen to do.

The announcement was made by Health Minister Joe Cassar as he opened a pharmacy symposium on Monday.

The vast majority of pharmacists answering a questionnaire by a fourth-year student said they agreed with supplementary prescriptions. Only 18 of the 45 pharmacists who answered a questionnaire did not agree.

Pharmacists believe they should be given the possibility to prescribe medications for painful conditions, like minor burns or inflammations, minor infections including a sore throat, and skin conditions like skin rashes and fungal dermatitis.

The study, by Francesca Tabone, was released during a symposium for pharmacy students, which is underway at the old university in Valletta.

In a similar study carried out in 2007, only 50 per cent of pharmacists said they were in favour of supplementary prescriptions.

Speaking during the opening of the symposium, Dr Cassar said prescribing pharmacists existed in other countries. In fact, in May 2006 British nurses and pharmacists who had undergone the appropriate training were able to prescribe medicines.

Contacted yesterday, Chamber of Pharmacists president Mary Anne Sant Fournier welcomed Dr Cassar's plan to enhance the pharmacists' role, in line with the chamber's longstanding vision for pharmacy in community and hospital scenarios.

She said that from the chamber's research, it was apparent that most pharmacists and patients would be in favour of such a prescribing role.

"Pharmacists are possibly the healthcare professionals whose potential has still not been maximised," she said.

Ms Sant Fournier said the chamber would be in favour of pharmacists as independent prescribers who would prescribe for any clinical condition but within their professional and clinical competence.

She said pharmacists already had an important role in responding to symptoms and recommending treatment or referring patients to doctors.

"In this regard the chamber offers its support for specific training programmes through its EU and international professional affiliations to enable pharmacists to be in a position to carry out this role," she said.

She added that the chamber looked forward to intensify dialogue with the ministry so this idea could be developed and implemented.

Ms Sant Fournier said that in ongoing discussions, the chamber had raised the need for a protocol for repeat prescribing in chronic conditions for all patients, including those who make use of the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme.