Medical indemnity provider Avant delivered what it called a rare political intervention this month, declaring that pharmacist prescribing was crossing a critical safety threshold.

It warned that the expansion of pharmacists’ prescribing powers based on theorised efficiency or cost savings, rather than safety considerations, must stop before patients come to harm.

Here, Perth GP Dr Ramya Raman explains how the question of safety is still being overlooked when it comes to pharmacy prescribing.

When Australia’s largest medical indemnity insurer warns that pharmacist prescribing has crossed a safety threshold, policymakers should pay attention.