Collaborating for better care
November 22, 2010
THE establishment of genuine
healthcare partnerships will be
critical to the viability and credibility
of Medicare Locals, according to
the Pharmaceutical Society of
Australia’s submission to the
Government on the program.
“Effective and enduring
partnerships will underpin the
capacity of a Medicare Local to
meet the needs of patients,” the
PSA said in a statement.
In its submission, the PSA said
that it welcomes Medicare Locals
as a mechanism to improve
patients’ access to services by
improving the coordination and
integration of care within the
healthcare system.
Medicare Locals are
“fundamental elements of the
Government’s National Health and
Hospitals Network which will build
upon the strengths of our current
health system, while encouraging
more locally responsive and flexible
services, better supporting health
practitioners and patients, and
improving integration and
accountability across the health
system,” the PSA said.
The PSA also advocated a
greater utilisation of the medical
expertise of pharmacists, saying
that “pharmacists are a key point of
access into local communities”.
“There are approximately 5000
community pharmacies across
Australia each serving an average
community of 4000 people and it is
estimated that the average person
visits a pharmacy 14 times per
year,” the PSA said.
“Pharmacists are thus a valuable
health professional resource who
can provide practical assistance in
the evolution of Medicare Locals.”
The Society also called on the
government to ensure the program
had a sound and sustainable
funding base,“ to enable Medicare
Locals to employ or contract staff
with the skills required to help meet
community needs and expectations.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 22 Nov 10To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 22 Nov 10
