FEDERAL and State Governments are being urged to extend emergency measures that have allowed pharmacists to broaden their scope of practice during the COVID-19 crisis on a permanent basis.
In a statement issued this morning, the Rural Pharmacy Network Australia (RPNA) said the pandemic had been "a catalyst for positive change in rural healthcare", but stressed further measures could be introduced to improve access to health services for patients living in rural and remote areas.
"Rural patients rely heavily on their local community pharmacy for healthcare advice and triaging, and even more so now with GPs delivering consults via telehealth rather than face to face," an RPNA spokesperson said.
"Pharmacists are involved in the monitoring and management of patients with chronic disease as well as treating minor ailments.
"There is value to the healthcare system by supporting pharmacists to deliver this care in terms of reducing hospitalisations and enabling GPs to focus on patients with more complex needs.
"Governments must look at formalising this role and ensuring that pharmacies are appropriately supported to provide this care. RPNA has already suggested that capitation payments tied to pharmacy service obligations would provide the expenditure control governments desire and the flexibility that rural community pharmacies require to adapt service delivery to meet local needs/context.
"The development of rural community pharmacy as a telehealth hub would also improve access to vital healthcare services for rural patients.
"Pharmacies located in towns without a permanent doctor should be supported to provide GP services via telehealth within the pharmacy.
"Rural community pharmacies should also be supported to provide pharmacy services via telehealth where appropriate.
"This might include such services as HMR follow-up consultations with remote patients as well as telehealth consults.
"Governments will inevitably look for efficiencies in the health system in order to gain greater value from their healthcare spend.
"Rural community pharmacies are well positioned to support governments to achieve this objective.
"If ever there was a time for governments to better utilise rural community pharmacies within primary healthcare - that time is surely now."
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