WESTERN Australia's hospital pharmacists have entered their second week of industrial action, with Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) warning that future healthcare delivery is at risk without urgent reforms.
AdPha supports the pharmacists who are calling on WA Health to improve career pathways and pay to attract and retain staff.
President Tom Simpson said, "hospital pharmacy workforce shortages are real, and patients will suffer if state governments don't act".
With 750 hospital pharmacists in WA alone, Simpson emphasised their critical role in ensuring safe medication use, providing clinical services, and supporting the health system through digital health innovations like e-prescribing.
Simpson urged state governments to implement a pharmacy-specific award that reflects the expanded roles of hospital pharmacists, many of whom have not seen updated agreements in over two decades.
"Without them, many hospitals would cease to function," he said, calling for recognition of their vital contributions to patient care.
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