PHARMACIST delivered health interventions should be included on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to increase the role the profession plays in addressing the healthcare needs of Australians, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) believes.
In a submission to the MBS Review Taskforce, the PSA stated "pharmacists must be involved in the care of patients whenever medicines are part of their health management plan, and particularly in the context of chronic disease".
PSA National President, Chris Freeman (pictured), said that while the Allied Health Reference Group advocated that pharmacists should play a greater role in patient care, in Feb (PD 08 Feb), more action needed to be taken to unlock the potential of the profession.
"Pharmacists have been calling for access to the MBS to reflect their skills, training and experience for longer than many of us can remember," he said.
"While this recommendation now exists, it is focused on long-term implementation.
"Given the rate of medicine-related harm being experienced by Australians and the potential for pharmacists to contribute to medicine safety and quality use of medicines, it is critical that the implementation of this recommendation is not delayed."
The PSA noted that pharmacists have a critical role to play within allied healthcare teams in improving medication adherence, particularly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, with pharmacists positioned to provide tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of individual patients.
The Society also voiced its support for the Mental Health Reference Group's recommendations calling for a coordinated strategy to provide support for patients with chronic and mental illnesses and access to mental health services in residential aged care.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 17 Jun 19
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