Concerns Over Expanded Prescribing Roles
Avant Mutual, Australia’s largest medical indemnity insurer, calls for a national prescribing safety framework. This follows proposals to expand pharmacist prescribing into complex care areas, raising safety concerns.
According to Avant, the Pharmacy Guild’s ‘Rewriting the Script’ report proposes expanding pharmacist prescribing into areas like cardiovascular disease. The insurer warns of potential patient harm due to misdiagnosis or inappropriate prescribing.
The Pharmacy Board proposes endorsing pharmacists to prescribe all medications, including high-risk Schedule 4 and Schedule 8 drugs, after just ten additional hours of training. This has heightened safety concerns.
Expert Opinions on Prescribing Authority
Professor Steve Robson, Avant’s Chief Medical Officer, says improving healthcare access is crucial. However, prescribing is a major contributor to medical negligence claims, even among experienced doctors.
“Prescribing sits at the intersection of diagnosis, clinical judgement and treatment decisions, and when it goes wrong the consequences for patients can be tragic,” said Professor Robson.
He stresses the need for a consistent prescribing framework developed collaboratively by doctors, pharmacists, regulators, and indemnity insurers like Avant.
Dr. Mark Woodrow, a senior emergency physician at Avant, acknowledges pharmacists’ vital role in healthcare. He states they are trusted members of patient care teams.
“Improving access should never be at the expense of quality and safety systems developed over years for patients’ benefit,” Dr. Woodrow said, emphasising prescribing complexity.
Avant’s analysis shows medication-related issues in one in six matters result in regulatory action or patient compensation. This underscores the need for evidence-based prescribing principles as pharmacist roles expand.
The debate now focuses on where prescribing boundaries should be drawn. “The question isn’t who can prescribe. The question is what level of diagnostic capability, clinical training, and ongoing oversight is required to prescribe safely,” Professor Robson said.
Last updated: 13 June 2026, 5:15 pm
