Queensland’s health watchdog has agreed to meet with doctors over accusations that pharmacists diagnosing and treating UTIs has led to patient harm.

Meanwhile, the university that evaluated the state’s UTI prescribing trial says it has referred allegations of research misconduct to its health faculty executive dean, with the potential to escalate the complaints to its vice-chancellor if they are deemed serious enough. 

As part of the trial, 6750 women paid pharmacists $19.95 to diagnose uncomplicated UTIs, then dispense trimethoprim, nitrofurantoin or cefalexin as private scripts. 

An evaluation by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) declared the trial a success, and as a result, it officially became a permanent part of the state’s healthcare system last month.