6 OCTOBER 2023

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‘ Reckless ’ pilot is offering doctors $ 150 an hour for supervision .

Rachel Carter and Paul Smith ALMOST 70 doctors , half of them GPs , have been recruited to supervise pharmacists while they train to prescribe S4 drugs and manage chronic conditions under Queensland ’ s controversial pilot .

The supervision takes place during the pharmacists ’ 120 hours of ‘ learning in practice ’ — a mandatory part of their training in diagnosing and prescribing . The pilot was originally confined to communities in North Queensland , but in a surprise move last

week , Queensland Minister for

Health Shannon Fentiman said it would be rolled out statewide from March next year .

Queensland University of Technology ( QUT ) is running the education program for pharmacists .

It said 67 doctors had so far signed up to provide supervision .

They were split “ approximately 50 / 50 for GPs and hospital-based designated prescribers ”.

‘ An innovative way to ensure access to cost-effective healthcare .’

— Shannon Fentiman

Australian Doctor understands they are being paid $ 150 an hour for 5-7 hours of supervision offered to each pharmacist — although the figures have not been confirmed .

Under the trial , pharmacists will prescribe under protocols for 15 conditions , including asthma and managing heart risk .

They will also have the ability to unilaterally alter GP-prescribed medications in certain circumstances .

The doctors — known as designated prescribers — will assess them to ensure they can conduct appropriate clinical assessments and examinations and have the ability to develop treatment plans .

However , the doctors will not be required to directly supervise all 120 hours of the pharmacist ’ s ‘ learning in practice ’, with the power to “ delegate ” aspects of their supervision to other health professionals — although it is not clear what this means in PAGE 11

Rachel Carter “ I SPENT 45 minutes on hold to the mental health team , and when I finally got through , the person I needed to speak to was on lunch .”

This is GP Dr Peter Tait , who has spent years caring for disadvantaged patients with mental illness .

He says the mental health care system is floundering , leaving patients and GPs without support .

‘ These are people with severe issues : paranoia , anxiety .’

“ For want of a better word , there is seething discontent about the ability of people in the deep end to access mental health services .”

Dr Tait is part of the Canberra Deep End group , a network of practitioners advocating for patients in the most deprived areas .

He works at an outreach clinic in the city where patients frequently turn up “ clearly unwell ” or in crisis .

“ Sometimes , we will ring up secondary care and say we are worried about someone , and they say they will send someone tomorrow ,” he says .

“ I say , ‘ Well , actually , we are in a bit of strife now ’ … They say they are busy , so it gets palmed off .” PAGE 3

GIP = glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide ; GLP-1 = glucagon-like peptide-1 ; T2D = Type 2 Diabetes .

References : 1 . MOUNJARO ® Approved Product Information . 2 . Willard FS , et al . JCI Insight 2020 ; 5 ( 17 ): e140532 .

THE ONLY REGISTERED SINGLE AGENT FOR T2D THAT ACTIVATES BOTH

RECEPTORS 1 , 2

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PBS Information : Mounjaro ® ( tirzepatide ) is not listed on the PBS

Please refer to the full Product Information before prescribing . Product Information can be accessed at www . lilly . com . au / en / products or on request by calling 1800 454 559 .

This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring in Australia . This will allow quick identification of new safety information . Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse events at www . tga . gov . au / reporting-problems .

© Eli Lilly Australia Pty Limited . Mounjaro ® is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company . Eli Lilly Australia Pty Limited . ABN 39 000 233 992 . Level 9 , 60 Margaret St , Sydney , NSW 2000 . Telephone : 1800 454 559 . Date of preparation : September 2023 . PP-TR-AU-0118 . BC .