Pharmacy Daily | Guild to continue push for $19 co-pay

THE Pharmacy Guild of Australia will continue to advocate for greater cost-of-living pressure relief for patients by having the general co-payment reduced to $19, according to Guild Executive Director, Suzanne Greenwood.

Writing in the Guild's regular Forefront update yesterday, Greenwood (pictured) highlighted the reduction of the general co-payment to $30 from 01 Jan, which she said was strongly supported by community pharmacists.

"We are not done with that campaign yet...and again, it will be community pharmacists whose stories of patient care and their challenge in affording medicines that will sway the politicians and decision-makers," she said.

MEANWHILE Greenwood also reflected on 2022, noting significant hard work and progress for the profession over the last year, in the face of the huge impact that COVID-19 had on the community pharmacy sector.

"The way the sector has responded to COVID-19 and other challenges has also had a major effect on another big development during the year: the momentum towards pharmacists working to full scope of practice.

"Proving how innovative and adaptable the sector has shown itself to be - and the difference this makes to improving accessibility of care to patients - has underpinned the acceptance by many State and Territory jurisdictions to put in place legislation to take steps to allow pharmacists to work to full scope of practice," Greenwood said.

She noted that full scope of practice means "pharmacists being able to provide the full range of services that they are skilled and trained to provide".

"We are not seeking to reinvent the wheel, rather to use the wheel effectively and to the full benefit of our patients and their carers."

Greenwood noted the success of the uncomplicated urinary tract infection pilot in Queensland which saw some 9,000 women access the service via community pharmacies, often because they could not get a GP appointment.

"The success, and the impact the service will potentially have on health budgets and in easing pressure on GPs, has seen it introduced permanently in Queensland, with other jurisdictions looking to follow...it's a win for the health system and, more importantly, for patients."