Pharmacists underutilised
December 14, 2011
PHARMACISTS have been
snubbed by the Australian National
Preventative Health Agency
(ANPHA), according to Terry White
Chemists founder Rhonda White.
Speaking at the Australian Self
Medication Industry (ASMI) Annual
Conference, White said that despite
being set up on 01 January this
year to lead the fight against
preventable diseases by targeting
key indicators including obesity
along with alcohol, tobacco and
other substance abuse, ANPHA has
not yet embraced pharmacists as a
valuable resource.
“The accessibility, sheer
convenience and timeliness see
pharmacists and the self care
community strategically placed to
assist with prevention and
management of so many conditions
which the Agency considers priority
areas,” she said.
Despite this set back however
White urged pharmacists to
continue to contribute to improved
health literacy in the community
and to make a positive impact on
the cost of health for the nation.
“More focus on promoting good
health, interventions that help
Australians to make well-informed
decisions about health and the
prevention of chronic disease, as
well as consumer support programs
to translate and interpret
information into good personal
health decisions are becoming
more a part of the daily tasks
community pharmacies and
pharmacists undertake,” White
said.
“We know Australians are
comfortable with receiving advice
from pharmacists – a Nielsen
survey recently reported 71
percent of those polled were willing
to use a pharmacist as the first
point of contact for their health
concerns.
“It’s time that the ANPHA caught
up with the greater population and
tapped into the role pharmacists
can play in preventative health,”
she added.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 14 Dec 11To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 14 Dec 11
