Doctors have issued a warning to people who use pharmacy health checks.
The health checks are often performed at chemist chains such as Priceline, Amcal and TerryWhite. They can include a heart health check, diabetes risk assessment, cholesterol test and anaemia screening.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is urging the public to stay away, saying pharmacies are “motivated by money”, reports SMH.
“They’re making health a commodity and further fragmenting Australia’s healthcare system,” RACGP Victoria chair Cameron Loy said.
“Health checks are not comparable to buying toothpaste, hair dye or vitamins, but part of the ongoing continuity of care, the long-term engagement, that general practice delivers.”
Dr Loy said sure there were no immediate dangers for participants, but they must consider the long-term risks.
“If you’re asking if there is a long-term danger for somebody not being across their healthcare needs and not having a GP reviewing them regularly and understanding their health needs over time, then yes, there are dangers,” he said.
“These pharmacies are motivated by money, the opportunity to have more people in the store to buy other things.”
The pharmacies argue that they are providing a service to customers that can no longer afford (or find the time) to visit the GP.
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