The RACGP, AMA and ACRRM have resigned from the expert steering committee meant to oversee Queensland’s looming pilot to allow pharmacists to independently prescribe and dispense S4 drugs.

It follows the backlash to a draft document drawn up by Queensland Health officials outlining the ways in which pharmacists could manage 23 medical conditions, including COPD, otitis media, obesity and hypertension.

The steering committee (see members listed below) is currently chaired by the department’s chief allied health officer, Liza-Jane McBridge, and is meant to provide expert advice on its design, implementation and evaluation.

However, only four of its members were medically qualified — those representing the GP groups plus Emeritus Professor Ian Wronski, who is representing the Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre based at James Cook University.