Pharmacy Daily | PSA seeks WA election commitments

WESTERN Australian politicians are being urged to voice their support for the expansion of pharmacists' scope of practice ahead of this weekend's State elections.

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) WA Branch President, Dr Fei Sim, called on the leaders of the State's four main parties to outline their position on a number of critical community health issues, including improved access to vaccines, "ensuring timely access to medicines through continued dispensing", funding of mental health first aid training for commmunity pharmacists to connect vulnerable patients with care when they need it urgently, and to allow pharmacists to administer prescribed medicines to improve the management of patients with complex conditions.

"As the peak body representing the 3,423 Western Australian pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is asking you to commit to improving the health and wellness of all Western Australians through these pharmacist-related initiatives," Sim said.

WA Premier and Labor leader, Mark McGowan, had said his Government recognised pharmacists as key stakeholders in the development of health policy and as important providers of primary healthcare.

The PSA noted that McGowan said Labor would seek to continue to work with the profession to expand the community pharmacy immunisation program, ensure pharmacists are involved in the review of WA's medicine supply chain, and to work with pharmacists advocating to the Federal Government to retain continued dispensing measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Party leader, Mia Davies, has also offered "in-principle" support for the PSA proposals, while Green's health spokesperson, Alison Xamon, said the party would back legislation and action to increase funding for immunisation programs, and push for a review of the COVID-19 response to inform ongoing regulation and future planning for medicines dispensing.

"We support the provision of mental health workplace interventions including mental health first aid training and the allocation of specific funding for this purpose," Xamon said.