Pharmacists potential call
June 2, 2016
Australia has issued an “election
manifesto,” urging the incoming
government to ensure pharmacists’
skills are maximised to contribute
to better health outcomes for all
Australians.
The new government should
look at better utilising the role
of pharmacists in healthcare and
explore innovative models of
interprofessional care, said PSA
national president ceo, adding
these are “cost-effective, evidencebased
reforms” which should be
considered.
The manifesto is titled Utilising
Pharmacists to Achieve Better
Health for Australians, with
Demarte saying pharmacists are
highly-accessible, qualified health
professionals however their
knowledge and expertise often go
under-utilised.
“Health policy experts have
acknowledged pharmacists are
well-trained, have expertise in
medicines and are located in
communities throughout Australia
but their role is more limited
in Australia than in many other
countries,” Demarte said.
“Australia is lagging behind
implementing innovative care
models which makes the best use
of the unique skills and expertise of
pharmacists”.
The manifesto outlines five key
reforms:
• Better utilisation of pharmacists in
the Health Care Home initiative
• Exploring interprofessional
collaboration, particularly for
chronic and complex conditions
• Using pharmacists to reduce
medication misadventure in
Residential Aged Care Facility
(RACF) teams
• Supporting culturally-responsive
pharmacist care for Aboriginals
and Torres Strait Islanders
• Investing in preventive health
programs using pharmacies to
deliver programs such as smoking
cessation and immunisation.
Demarte said that the incoming
government needs to ensure
pharmacies remain viable and went
on to call for stronger recognition
of pharmacists as a key component
of an effective Australian health
care system.
“PSA is committed to working
with the incoming Government
to improve our nation’s health
through excellence in pharmacist
care,” he said.
“Therefore, optimising
pharmacists’ contribution in
collaborative healthcare models to
significantly improve the health and
well-being of all Australians.”
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