FUNDING for the provision of on-site pharmacy services in residential aged care facilities should be distributed through Primary Health Networks (PHNs), the Australian Medical Association (AMA) believes.
In its submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the medical lobby group said that a PHN funding model would ensure the "independence of pharmacists from aged care providers", and "ensure that all pharmacists in the area are linked together and are able to develop and support communities of learning and practice".
However, Pharmacy Guild of Australia National Councillor, Natalie Willis, has previously described the idea of PHNs being involved in the proposed program - which is due to come into effect from 01 Jan 2023 - as "ludicrous".
Speaking at Pharmacy Connect last month, Willis said many pharmacies across the country had challenging experiences with PHNs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"They're like the old Medicare Locals and Divisions of General Practise - they're GP-centric," Willis said.
"They like to claim that they represent pharmacy, when it's in their best interests to do so, but when the rubber hits the road and it's like, 'cough up some money then', there's not a chance in hell they're going to give you any.
"So giving money to PHNs to employ pharmacists just seems ludicrous - for anyone who tried to get personal protective equipment (PPE) out of a PHN during the pandemic.
"They couldn't even do that let alone organise a payment system for pharmacists - they just have no capacity for this, it's ridiculous."
Meanwhile, the AMA said it would "strongly oppose" any proposals to authorise embedded pharmacists to prescribe medications for aged care residents, in its submission.
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