PHARMACY GUILD GUIDELINES FOR MEDICAL CERTIFICATES
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia have jointly issued guidelines to assist pharmacists in identifying those circumstances where it would be appropriate to issue a certificate of illness or refer the customer to a medical practitioner.
These guidelines come on the back of 2006 legislative changes by the former Government which opened up a Pandora’s box allowing any registered health practitioner to issue a certificate of illness, including pharmacists, massage therapists, chiropractors and Chinese Medicine practitioners.
In response the AMA has highlighted that this undermines the value of sick certificates for employers wanting some assurance that the employee is actually sick.
The AMA has highlighted the move will potentially encourage sick people to go to other health practitioners when in reality they should be seeing a GP for proper diagnosis and treatment.
There are medico legal considerations that need to be assessed when issuing a certificate. Strict rules govern GPs who provide medical certificates are Medical Board enforceable. This is not the case with certificates issue by other health practitioners.
The AMA has suggested it’s time for employers to start treating their employees like adults by not requiring a certificate for short term absences.
DIABETES AUSTRALIA – UPCOMING SYMPOSIUM
Diabetes Australia will hold its 10th Annual Health Symposium in Queensland on 10 & 11 April 2008. The symposium, with its entourage of specialist speakers and topics covering a broad spectrum of diabetes related complications should equip health professionals with the knowledge and latest management techniques to help their patients living with diabetes and its complications.
For more information go to www.diabetesqld.org.au or click on the following link http://www.diabetesqld.org.au/index1.php?ref=MTM3OA==&PHPSESSID=912d4813864e3496c279a21fce510a4d
RACGP GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has 12 grants on offer for 2008 to encourage new and emerging general practice researchers. Applicants have until 5pm EST, Monday 14 April 2008 to apply for a grant from the RACGP Research Foundation. For more information see http://www.racgp.org.au/researchfoundation.
VIC REGULATES AGAINST SOLARIUMS
On 1 February 2008 new regulations for the Victorian solarium industry came into effect. VIC GPs should keep an eye out for soon to be delivered information regarding the VIC government’s campaign Solariums – Fashion to Die For. For more information visit www.vic.gov.au.