The AMA has applied a blowtorch to the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s plan for autonomous pharmacist prescribing of S4 and S8 drugs, accusing it of putting patients at risk.

With states and territories rolling out various pharmacy prescribing trials, the board is attempting to standardise qualifications and training by drawing up an endorsement framework.

But the AMA says the board’s proposal is a safety menace, arguing it would also allow pharmacists to self-determine their own scope of practice, including which medicines they could prescribe.

“The [board’s] endorsement for pharmacists to autonomously prescribe scheduled medicines will lead to a significant and potentially irreversible change to our healthcare system should it be approved,” said the AMA’s submission to the board’s consultation.