AUSTRALIA is playing "a game of Russian roulette" with aged care residents paying the price, by failing to address barriers to the provision of pharmacist-led services to improve medicines safety, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) believes.
PSA National President, Associate Professor Chris Freeman, has called on the Federal Government to allocate $200 million over the next four years to enable residential aged care facilities to engage pharmacists directly and tackle inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications and sedatives.
"It is alarming that this issue... this is a game of Russian roulette, and unfortunately our older Australians are paying the price," he said.
"Some of the stories heard by PSA are truly horrifying.
"The most heartbreaking aspect of this is that these problems are largely avoidable.
"Medicines are developed, prescribed and dispensed to support good health -- and when used properly, have the potential to greatly improve quality of life.
"But when used incorrectly, they can cause more harm than good, and in the most devastating of circumstances, ultimately lead to death."
"We need a stronger connection between health care and aged care, and pharmacists as the custodians of medicine safety, can help bridge this divide."
"PSA calls on the Federal Government to revise aged care funding instruments, investing $200 million over four years to support residential aged care facilities to directly engage pharmacists.
"Embedding pharmacists in aged care facilities will improve aged care medication management, ultimately reducing medicine-related harm amongst residents."
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