ADDITIONAL support needs to be provided to ensure community pharmacists have access to up-to-date information about novel medical technology, pharmacist-turned Federal MP, Emma McBride believes.
Speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday, the Shadow Assistant Health Minister, noted that pharmacists have been calling for adequate training prior to the introduction of new medicines to the Australian market.
"This is vital," McBride said.
"As I said before, pharmacists are some of the most trusted and relied upon healthcare professionals in our communities, and they're well-placed to support patients who need highly specialised medicines, and new and evolving therapies.
"But they need to be properly supported, with timely access to the most up-to-date and evidence-based information to protect the health and best interests of their patients."
McBride added that the Pharmacy Guild of Australia had said that "pharmacies often are presented with very little incentive to stock or be involved in supplying high-cost specialised medicines", in its submission to the Health, Aged Care and Sport Committee.
"This must change so that all Australians can access the care they need," she said.
"I would like to put my full support behind pharmacists and other allied healthcare workers being properly supported in the work that they do.
"It's essential that all healthcare professionals are able to work to the full scope of their practice, to make sure that all Australians can get proper health care - especially those Australians living outside of major cities."
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