Pharmacist asthma advice
May 7, 2014
Pharmacists have been
identified as a possible alternate
source of advice about available
asthma medications for patients.
A summary published this week
of the stakeholder forum which
was held in November detailed
the various views of attendees
on the post-market review of
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
medicines used to treat asthma in
children.
The review is being conducted
by the Department of Health,
following the Paediatric Medicines
Advisory Group’s finding that 40%
of children supplied with a fixed
dose combination product had
not first been prescribed a single
ingredient product.
The review was recommended to
ensure the medicines were being
used safely and appropriately and a
draft report was due this year, the
Department of Health said.
The summary document
said pharmacists “could be
acknowledged as an alternate and
readily accessible source of advice
for asthma patients and families on
available asthma medications.”
Other views expressed at the
forum included that an apparent
high use of preventer medications
showed that education of health
professionals and consumers
needed to be given high priority,
and the challenges associated with
this were acknowledged.
The National Asthma Council
Australia (NAC) welcomed the
review, and took part in the forum,
ceo Kristine Whorlow said.
Pharmacists were an “essential”
part of the asthma management
team and contributed to the
Australian Asthma Handbook,
Whorlow said.
“Pharmacists are able to provide
advice on inhaler technique as
well as on the role of asthma
medications.
“They play an integral part in
asthma management.”
NAC was concerned about reports
of inappropriate prescribing of
inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and
ICS/long-acting beta agonist
combination inhalers for children,
which should only be used for
the 5% of children with persistent
asthma, and NAC wanted asthma to
be managed according to the latest
edition of the Asthma Handbook,
she said.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
said it was always keen to see a
recognition and utilisation of the
skills and expertise of pharmacists.
Progressing targeted services
would require appropriate funding
and so a commitment from a
body such as the Government, a
spokesman said.
The Woolcock Institute of Medical
Research has asked pharmacists to
help with education around inhaler
technique for asthma patients (see
page 2).
To read the summary, CLICK HERE.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 07 May 14To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 07 May 14
