THE Federal Government has announced it will fast-track the rollout of electronic prescribing across Australia, through the provision of $5 million in funding under a new comprehensive $2.4 billion health package aiming to help deal with COVID-19.
The package also includes $25 million to pay for home medicines services, which will enable patients to have their PBS prescriptions filled online or remotely, and have the medicines home delivered.
The new service will be available for people in home isolation, as well as for vulnerable patient groups, and all pharmacies with e-prescribing capabilities will be eligible to participate.
The wide-ranging package also includes the rollout of new Medicare telehealth items as well as up to 100 dedicated respiratory clinics across the country.
"The clinics will be a one-stop-shop for people who are concerned they may have the virus, to be tested and isolated from other patients," said PM Scott Morrison.
The Pharmacy Guild, PSA and SHPA have all hailed the package, with Guild National President, George Tambassis, saying "we look forward to seeing the detail of the package and working with the Government in the interests of patient safety and wellbeing".
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) also welcomed the news, with National President Chris Freeman adding that community pharmacy should be supported in the adoption and implementation of electronic prescribing.
Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) CEO Kristin Michaels said $500 million in funding for hospitals would help them deal with COVID-19, also cautioning that "panic buying" of medicines could contribute to shortages for inpatients who need them the most.
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