Lavington chemist Jeff Nelson supports NSW government reform to increase pharmacy's output

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet confirmed an expansion of the number of vaccinations pharmacists can administer and proposed a trial for them to prescribe medication for urinary tract infections and a range of other conditions, which would otherwise require a GP appointment.

Vaccines include Japanese encephalitis, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, typhoid and zoster.

It has been opposed by the NSW branch of the Australian Medical Association who described the reform as a "rogue health policy" that would threaten general practice.

Jeff Nelson, owner and pharmacist at Terry White Chemmart in the Lavington Square shopping complex, said he would be happy to take some pressure off GPs.

"There's a little bit of noise from the AMA, but I don't see it as a turf war at all," Mr Nelson said.

"I think most GPs would be happy if any pressure could be relieved for them.

"We won't be able to provide the service without that extra training and it needs to be made clear that it won't be available everywhere.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"With medications for urinary tract infections, it's already running in Queensland and has been for some time with a level of success as far as I understand.

"We haven't got full details on what products, but most of them won't come until the end of next year once all the training comes on online and everyone can be trained."

NSW Pharmacy Guild president David Heffernan said the state government's announcement to expand the services offered in community pharmacies was a great win for patients.

However, president of Australian Medical Association's NSW branch Dr Michael Bonning called on accessible patient care to be "properly funded" at a federal level.

"Rogue health policies being introduced in a piecemeal fashion by the states further threaten general practice and undermine the Commonwealth's commitment to improving patient access to primary care," he said.

"The Premier should be introducing policies that support general practice, not contributing to its collapse.

"If the Premier wants to improve patient access to healthcare, he could act immediately to halt an unfair tax grab that is forcing many general practices to consider closing their doors."

Mr Nelson was unsure if Victorians living in Border communities would have access to the same medications and vaccines offered by NSW pharmacies as part of the reform.

To read more stories, download The Border Mail news app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: