A ONE-DAY roundtable including representatives from Australian pharmacy bodies, universities and leading international advanced practice groups has reaffirmed the "urgent need for a robust, sustainable, independent process to transform Australia's pharmacy workforce".
Participants reiterated a collective commitment to developing a central mechanism to strengthen medicines management and deliver optimal health outcomes.
Associate Professor Ian Coombes, who chaired the confabulation, said "It was heartening the think tank confirmed the establishment of a sustainable credentialing process should not be delayed, should explore closer ties with international partners and should implement principles previously outlined and formally tested by the Australian Pharmaceutical Council (APC) in their recent pilot."
The pilot advanced practice model stipulated that an authorised and accountable program for universally available, life-long development should be rigorously maintained and delivered by people proficient in advanced pharmacy practice.
SHPA president Michael Dooley said the consensus for recognition of advanced pharmacy practice in Australia was encouraging.
International Pharmaceutical Federation director for education development, Professor Ian Bates stressed, "As in all areas of healthcare, future service delivery requires a transformative approach to workforce development -- in this context, standing still means going backwards".
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