AMA warns against reckless expansion of optometrist prescribing rights
The Australian Medical Association has strongly opposed plans by the Optometry Board of Australia to expand optometrist prescribing rights to include oral medicines, warning the move poses unacceptable risks to patient safety.
The AMA's submission to the board's consultation on revised prescribing standards highlights that optometrists lack the extensive medical training required to safely manage the systemic risks associated with oral medicines.
AMA Vice President A/Prof Julian Rait said using workforce shortages to justify expanding non-medical prescribing is reckless and puts patients at risk.
"Patient safety must come first and the Board needs to recognise that inappropriate prescribing of these medicines can have very significant consequences for patients," A/Prof Rait said.
"Unlike medical practitioners, optometrists simply don't have the comprehensive training needed to provide holistic diagnoses and manage the complex systemic risks that come with prescribing oral medicines."
Evidence cited in the board's own consultation documents reveals concerning gaps in optometry training.
The Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand report found that the reviewed optometry programs did not equip optometrists with sufficient knowledge to understand the types, causes, and risks of medicine errors.
A/Prof Rait warned the proposed changes risk fragmenting patient care and creating confusion about who is responsible for a patient's overall medication regime.
"Expanding prescribing rights without robust evidence and safeguards undermines the integrity of Australia's healthcare system.
"We need a clear distinction between medical and non-medical roles to ensure prescribing remains the responsibility of those with appropriate training and accountability."
Australia's healthcare system currently ranks first among comparable countries according to the Commonwealth Fund Report 2024, including first overall as well as for equity and health outcomes.
A/Prof Rait said the AMA supported collaborative care models where non-medical prescribers operate in tightly defined scopes under appropriate clinical governance.
"The AMA believes optometrists should not be permitted to prescribe beyond topical agents under current arrangements,” he said.
“We support a medically-led model of care that prioritises patient safety over piecemeal expansion of prescribing rights."