Medical Competition !

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has issued a warning against the " health checks " being offered by several chains of competing chemists.   The Pharmaceutical industry is conducting various " walk in " consultations at which the state of the patients heart, cholesterol level, weight and susceptibility to stroke are measured and this either involves a small charge or the check is chargeable to Medicare.

The RACGP is adamant that healthcare needs revolve around a GP  understanding these health needs and monitoring them over time. Doctors are generally very protective of their role in the health system and many see this service as active competition.  It raises the question of whether the chemists are offering checks to provide a genuine consultative service, or hoping to sell goods to those enticed into the shop.

Back in the 1980's a medical group setup what seemed to many to be a very innovative approach to medical health. Patients passed through the hands of what seemed to be like an assembly line of medical people.  It was all done in a single session in the one location and the results were mailed to the patients nominated General Practitioner.  The aim was a pro-active medical check across the entire body, including sight and all the various pathology tests that disclose underlying health problems.

This was sharply criticised by many doctors as conducting unnecessary tests and imposing a cost on the health system.  It was initially very popular but interest waned and it eventually shut its doors.  The serviced offered in chemist shops seems to be a new approach to draw medical dangers to the attention of those people who are not regularly attended by a medical professional.

In the distant past it was common for GP's to setup in sole practice, have a restricted number of patients and make house calls. Today they are more likely to group together in a clinic for economic reasons.  These clinics are more prevalent in affluent areas and it is becoming hard to access a GP in many low income and country areas.

There is every reason that the work of GP's and chemists should be complimentary. A vast number of people rarely consult a doctor but regularly visit a chemist.  This presents an opportunity to determine underlying ailments from the relief sought. Chemists enjoy wide public trust and they are in an ideal position to steer patients to seek treatment from a GP.  What seems to be in contention here is whether the chemist industry is seeking to intercede in the treatment process !