There's hope that the ACT Party's latest election promise will alleviate pressure on the wider health sector.

David Seymour recently announced ACT would expand pharmacists' powers, including letting them treat more minor ailments, manage long-term medications and monitor some conditions.

Seymour says most of the world is looking to better utilise their health professionals to take the load off GPs and Emergency Departments. 

"What's happened around the world is that pharmacists have got much greater use of robotic prescribing, so there's a lot less - as one pharmacist said to me - counting and pouring. And as a result, all of these countries are starting to make greater use of having a pretty well-trained health professional, usually in your community." 

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