Nurse prescribing is coming, with a Senate Committee recommending passage of legislation that will allow Nurse Practitioners to have access to the Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Multi-healthcare professional prescribing is inevitable, despite the protests of the medical fraternity. Brace yourself for further rounds of debates as pharmacists and other highly-skilled and trained health professionals move up to the prescribing starting blocks in the coming years.

Regardless of how things pan out, all this hoopla has highlighted something that we continue to believe at ZEST – doctors are not the sole custodians of prescription medicines. And while for years they have been the focus of medical education programs, other members of the healthcare team play vital roles in patient medication – by offering advice on medication options, patient education, and monitoring of efficacy and side effects.

Progressive pharmaceutical companies have been sponsoring quality education for allied healthcare professionals, particularly nurses and pharmacists, for some time now. They are also investing their time in building solid relationships with these groups and will be there to support them as they gain prescribing rights.

Nurse practitioner and pharmacist prescribing is coming. Are you confident in your relationship with these groups of professionals? ZEST has a strong heritage in working with allied healthcare professionals to develop valuable education programs and materials – talk to us about ways you can prepare for the broader landscape!

ZEST Healthcare Communications specialises in the creation of medical education programs and materials designed to inform and educate healthcare professionals and consumers. Our materials run across all media, including the latest in online technologies. The strategic intent of these programs and materials is to positively transform the way people think about a disease area or brand.