Editors Picks
Monday, 02 February 2026
Warning over prescribing medicine
THE Australian Medical Association opposes plans to let optometrists prescribe oral medicines, warning it risks patient safety due to limited medical training and potential medication errors. The AMA argues expanding prescribing rights to address workforce shortages could fragment care and blur accountability for overall treatment. It supports collaborative, medically led models with tightly defined scopes instead. The association says prescribing oral drugs should remain the responsibility of fully trained medical practitioners to maintain healthcare quality and safety.
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Michael Walls
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