A Queensland government plan to dramatically expand pharmacists' responsibilities has suffered another setback after one of the state's primary health networks announced its departure from the program after concerns were raised about perceived conflicts of interest.
The North Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) has become the fifth medical group to pull its support for the pilot program, which would allow pharmacists to diagnose and prescribe drugs for illnesses – including diabetes, middle ear infections and hypertension – without GP supervision.
The NQPHN is a non-profit, federally funded network that invests in primary and preventative health from south-west of Mackay to the Torres Strait, taking in major centres including Cairns and Townsville.
The health network's chairman, Nick Loukas, had been part of a steering committee working with the government on its North Queensland Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot, which could roll out across 37 local government areas in June.
Mr Loukas also owns several pharmacies in the trial area and is a member of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
But documents seen by the ABC show steering committee members, including Mr Loukas, did not declare any conflicts of interest at an October 2021 meeting.
The guild denied Mr Loukas had a conflict of interest.
"Mr Loukas is a known pharmacist," it said in a statement.
Mr Loukas told the ABC he had stepped down to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest.
"As a pharmacy owner, in order to avoid any perception of a conflict, I voluntarily stood aside from the pilot on 21st [sic] February," he said in a statement.
"For good governance, I decided to recuse myself from any further NQPHN Board discussions regarding the pilot."
Mass exodus
The pilot program is the brainchild of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, one of the country's most powerful lobbying organisations.
NQPHN chief executive Robin Whyte declined an interview but said in a statement that the organisation was "absolutely committed to improving the availability of critical health care to North Queensland residents".
"The NQPHN however has reviewed its participation in the North Queensland Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot Steering Reference Group and has determined to withdraw our participation."
The withdrawal of the NQPHN – a federally funded organisation — follows an ABC investigation that revealed a mass exodus of medical groups from the program.
The NQPHN did not comment on its reasons for the withdrawal.
The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and the Australian Medical Association have all walked away from the program citing concerns for patient safety.
The Pharmacy Guild said the pilot has broadscale community support and would create more high-quality health services for patients to access.
"Since recent media interest in the pilot, a number of forward-thinking medical professionals have come forward and sought to be included in the pilot's steering reference committee," a spokesperson said.
"The pilot is also an election commitment of all major political parties in Queensland and we expect that the required 12-16 months' worth of training (theory and practical) will commence in 2022."
Queensland Health did not respond to direct questions about the withdrawal of the NQPHN but in a statement said the time frame for the pilot was currently under review.
"Further information about the scope of the North Queensland pilot will be made available as soon as it is finalised, including the types of services to be provided and how they will be delivered," a spokesperson said.
"The aim of the North Queensland Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot is to improve access to high-quality, integrated, and cost-effective primary health care services for communities in North Queensland by increasing the scope of practice of pharmacists."
