Joint statement released on professional responsibilities for prescribing and dispensing medicines

03 Jun 2024

The emergence of services designed solely to provide customers with access to a predetermined medicine raises concerns that some practitioners may be putting profit ahead of patient welfare.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, the Medical Board of Australia, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and the Pharmacy Board of Australia have released a joint statement reminding practitioners of their long-established responsibilities when prescribing and dispensing medicines. 

The Boards are focussed on concerns that practitioners are cashing in on rising demand for the prescription and use of medicinal cannabis, bulk produced compounded medicines, or soon to be banned compounded semaglutide and related products. 

We remind practitioners of their duty of care when providing prescriptions of any kind, whether it be in-person or via telehealth.