Published by Computachem Services

P.O Box 297.
Alstonville. 2477
NSW Australia

Phone:
61 2 66285138

With pharmacists being in short supply, there has been a move to allow dispensary technicians to hold a greater role in the "more menial tasks" such as dispensing, and handing out schedule three medicines.
This is an interesting move, and one fraught with danger, both for the public and for pharmacy in general.

It is argued that by freeing these tasks from pharmacists would allow more time for patient counselling, home medication reviews (HMRs) and more of a "hands on" role.
I, for one, welcome increased training of staff, as it usually follows a linear relationship with increased service and increased patient outcomes.
But what level of training would be required, and where would that leave the profession?

In my limited experience, I have worked with a number of techs, ranging from excellent to fairly poor.
All with the same level of accreditation.
This is no blight on the accreditation at all, as I have worked with a number of pharmacists who range on the same scale.

It can easily be assumed that the new course would be longer and more in depth than the current dispensing technicians course.
But from there, it is imperative that the new level of dispensary technician be registrable, and hence de-registrable.
This would ensure professional standards would be maintained.
But in the case of dispensing, would the course explain the potential significance of interactions? Explain the necessity of checking history, and knowing the crossover sensitivities between penicillins and other antibiotics for those with an allergy?

In the case of handing over schedule three medicines, would it be necessary for the technicians to have S3 updates when a new product comes onto the market?
Would it mean that the S3 could be handed out without any pharmacist interventions?

And moving along those lines, would this mean that Coles and Safeway could successfully argue that they could employ technicians to hand out schedule three and schedule two items from a specialised aisle or deli.
It is possible that the number system could be used.

"Number 36"
"Can I have a packet of mersyndol please?"
"Certainly. Anything else?"
"Yeah, can I have 200g shaved leg ham?"

Probably the biggest problem with the above scenario is that in some pharmacies, it is probably a very similar situation.
Pharmacy needs to lift its game and enforce professional standards to ensure that greater patient outcomes are achieved.