Pharmacy Daily | Guild gets governmental

THE Pharmacy Guild of Australia has managed to extract election promises for community pharmacy from both the Liberal and Labor camps. Keeping its hat in the ring throughout the election, the Guild sought expressions of support for the community pharmacy model from the major political players, and in turn has been rewarded with support from both sides for the maintenance of the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement, as well as ongoing support for the expansion of the role of pharmacists in the Australian healthcare system. “The Gillard Labor Government recognises the important role that community pharmacists play in the provision of primary health care through the delivery of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines and related services and supports the current health care model of pharmacy,” a letter to the Guild from the PM Julia Gillard said. “As part of this health reform, the Gillard Labor Government is committed to strengthening Australia’s primary health care system, and community pharmacy is an essential element of this,” Gillard added. Liberal leader Tony Abbott also wrote to the Guild and its membership ranks saying it was his belief that “professional pharmacy is best practiced by Community pharmacists in the current pharmacy setting”, as opposed to pharmacy premises within supermarkets. “My colleagues and I acknowledge the valuable contributions to the Australian community made by your profession....we have worked effectively with you in the past and we reconfirm our commitment to help consolidate your role in the health care system into the future,” Abbott said. “The trend in community pharmacy practice to provide more professional and cognitive services to the patient is growing and the Coalition has always supported the expansion of the role of the pharmacist in this way,” he added. Pharmacy Guild of Australia national president, Kos Sclavos, expressed his delight with the expressions of support, adding that the Guild will “continue the dialogue with the Government on behalf of our members come what may on Saturday 21 August”.

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