AMA submission on Continued dispensing consultation
The AMA made a submission to the Department of Health and Ageing on 13 April 2011 responding to a proposal that pharmacists could continue prescription medicines to a patient under defined circumstances. The AMA is strongly opposed to pharmacists dispensing prescription medication without a valid prescription and without reference to the patient’s treating medical practitioner. Only medical practitioners are adequately trained to make assessments about a patient’s clinical condition, the need to begin treatment with a prescription medication, and consequently to continue, adjust or cease that treatment.
The AMA made a submission to the Department of Health and Ageing on 13 April 2011 responding to a proposal that pharmacists could continue prescription medicines to a patient under defined circumstances. The AMA is strongly opposed to pharmacists dispensing prescription medication without a valid prescription and without reference to the patient’s treating medical practitioner. Only medical practitioners are adequately trained to make assessments about a patient’s clinical condition, the need to begin treatment with a prescription medication, and consequently to continue, adjust or cease that treatment.
