Inclusive reference group
May 10, 2010
THE Pharmacy Guild this
morning released more details of
the Programs Reference Group
(PRG) which will oversee the
professional programs under the
Fifth Community Pharmacy
Agreement (PD Tue).
The PRG replaces the Fourth
Agreement’s Professional Programs
and Servies Advisory Committee
(PPSAC) and sees broader
representation from across the
pharmacy sector.
The group will provide advice to
the Health Minister and the
Agreement Consultative Committee
(ACC) relating to “the policy
dimensions of new and continuing
Professional Programs” under the
Fifth Agreement.
It will include one ACC member
representing the Guild, one
member of the ACC representing
the Health Department who will
also chair the PRG, a member
representing the Pharmaceutical
Society of Australia, and a member
representing the Society of Hospital
Pharmacists of Australia.
Three other members will be
appointed by the minister each with
respective expertise in rural
pharmacy, health economics and
program evaluation, while a further
six members will be each appointed
by the Minister from organisations
representing groups such as
community pharmacy, pharmacist
credentialling, consumers,
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
primary care, general practice and
allied health.
Guild President Kos Sclavos said
the new Programs Reference Group
would ensure there is wider input
into programs, “with structured
capacity to take stakeholder views
into consideration.
“This new group will ensure
better linkages between pharmacy
programs and other parts of the
health system,” Sclavos said.
“It is the Guild’s hope that this
group with such broad
representation will ensure that
other sectors are aware of
pharmacy programs and thus
integrate their activities with
community pharmacy,” he added.
Terms of reference for the PRG to
be developed by the Guild and the
Department will lay out the
responsibilities and decision
making processes for the PRG, as
well as how the group will establish
and operate subcommittees.
MEANWHILE the Pharmaceutical
Society of Australia has welcomed
the establishment of the PRG, with
acting president Grant Kardachi
saying he was “confident that given
the right tools and resources the
PRG will facilitate delivery of 5CPA
programs in the most efficacious
and cost-effective manner”.
He said the PSA looks forward to
using its position within the group
to ensure that 5CPA programs “are
given the chance to make a real
difference to the health of
Australians”.
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