THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and the Pharmacy Guild are part of a coalition of healthcare organisations which have today called on Federal and State support for the creation of a Northern Rivers healthcare businesses flood recovery grant.
A media conference in the northern NSW town of Lismore saw the Guild, PSA and several doctors groups including the AMA and RACGP issue a joint call, with Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW Branch President, David Heffernan, saying it was vital that health services were appropriately recognised for their role in helping communities affected by disasters.
"We have seen through floods and fires how community pharmacists have gone above and beyond to help their communities," Heffernan said.
"They have stayed open, worked by candlelight and found innovative ways to get medicines to patients...working with other health professionals they have ensured patients get the best care they can in extreme circumstances."
PSA NSW President Chelsea Felkai backed the campaign, saying pharmacists in the Lismore region had shown their passion for their patients during the crisis.
"We've seen pharmacists on the back of jetskis trying to get medicines to people who need them - that's how dedicated they are," she said.
The Rural Doctors Network Flood Recovery Grant Proposal "would allow pharmacists to get back to doing what they do best - providing expert health advice to the community".
"Many of these pharmacists have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of stock, and some have lost their pharmacies altogether," Felkai noted.
"We cannot support the health of our communities if the government doesn't support us," she added.
Felkai also urged the permanent adoption of measures such as one-month emergency supply arrangements to allow patients to more easily access medications in the event of a disaster.
The current temporary emergency supply authority in NSW expires at the end of this month, while Felkai said Commonwealth continued dispensing arrangements are "not fit for emergency purpose".
"Emergency supply is a last resort, but giving pharmacists the ability to continue providing medicines in these situations is vital to public health, especially during disasters."
The grant proposal from the NSW Rural Doctors Network urges governments to create a program open to all 2022 flood-affected primary health, health practitioner and health services businesses, with a maximum grant amount to cover their losses (including lost income) with an approval process providing "urgent and immediate security and certainty for these businesses to rebuild".
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