Doctors’ concerns about misdiagnoses and missed diagnoses have failed to slow the pharmacist prescribing juggernaut, with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia continuing to fight for pharmacists to provide GP-level care in a retail setting.

Here, prominent GP and academic Professor Louise Stone gives her arguments against the guild’s plan and explains why GPs have struggled to make their case to politicians based on patient safety.

Under our code of conduct, doctors have a responsibility to reduce error, improve patient safety and to act if we identify an issue that may compromise patient safety.

Which is why I make no apology for expressing concerns about the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s plans to manage complex illnesses using brief training and a series of algorithms.