Pharmacy Daily | ‘Common goal’ unites PDL and PSA

PROFESSIONAL indemnity insurer, Pharmaceutical Defence Limited (PDL), is partnering with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) to explore new medicines safety initiatives.

The partnership will see both organisations support the introduction of a nationally coordinated pharmacovigilance system, and medicine incident and near-miss reporting systems, to provide feedback on the safe and effective use of medicines.

Under the agreement the PSA and PDL will set up a Practice Support Liaison Group to provide support for pharmacists and scope of practice across all areas of pharmacy practice.

PSA National President, Dr Fei Sim, said the united approach would place them in a stronger position to make medicines safer for patients through excellence in pharmacy practice.

"We are stronger when we work together, and this will allow our organisations to collaborate on future medicine safety reports, and to progress medicine safety initiatives such as a nationally coordinated pharmacovigilance system," she said.

"PDL is incredibly well trusted by the profession, and has supported pharmacists for generations, through investment in pharmacist education and scholarships as well as practice support.

"PSA is excited to see that practice support expand for pharmacists across all practice settings.

"I'd like to thank PDL for their support and collaboration, and for their ongoing commitment to the pharmacy profession and to improving medicine safety for all Australians."

PDL Chair, Paul Naismith, said the partnership would unite members of both organisations in the common goal of improving medicines safety.

"As the peak body representing all pharmacists, PSA has demonstrated it is a leader in medicine safety by driving excellence in pharmacist practice," he said.

"At PDL, we're excited to be working together with PSA to help tailor practice support across the profession in areas it will have the biggest impact on improving medicine safety.

"We look forward to supporting and working with PSA to further strengthen our great profession as it strives to deliver on Australia's growing health needs."