The rise of pharmacists prescribing S4 drugs may require GPs to break a professional taboo and speak directly to patients about politics during consultations, a prominent GP says.

Pharmacist prescribing dominated audience questions during a panel discussion about the RACGP’s lobbying priorities at the RACGP Practice Owners Conference on Sunday.

While most RACGP leaders focused on increasing the college’s presence in Canberra and encouraging GPs to contact local MPs, Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda offered a more controversial pitch.

He said GPs could use consultations to warn patients of the risks of pharmacist prescribing and other government decisions, as well as using posters in waiting rooms to make the same points.