News The latest calls, contained in a submission to the National Rural Health Commissioner, include the ability to prescribe medicines and administer more vaccines. The Pharmacy Guild says expanding scope of practice will improve healthcare access in rural areas. The document describes the proposed major changes as supporting pharmacists to ‘work to full scope of practice’. ‘The benefits of pharmacists practising to their full scope is most pronounced in rural and regional communities where access to health professionals and health outcomes are lower,’ the document states. ‘Pharmacy is well placed to assist because of the better geographic spread of pharmacists across regional Australia when compared to other health professionals.’ This follows the Pharmacy Guild’s recently published policy paper , which advocates allowing pharmacists to treat ‘common ailments’ as a way to increase access and potentially save ‘billions’ in health costs. However, Chair of RACGP Rural, Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda […]