LEGISLATIVE reforms allowing the supply of naloxone to occur directly to patients at needle and syringe programs services in Victoria are being welcomed, but the Pharmacy Guild of Australia believes safeguards are needed to ensure safe and effective use.
The Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment Bill 2020, was passed by the State Legislative Council yesterday, and will allow for needle exchange services to dispense naloxone directly to intravenous drug users, rather than redirecting them to a pharmacy with a voucher to receive State-funded naloxone.
Guild Victorian Branch President, Anthony Tassone, told Pharmacy Daily, that community pharmacies should be part of the naloxone distribution model.
"The Guild welcomes and supports measures that improve access to naloxone because it saves lives," he said.
"However, it is important that appropriate safeguards are in place to ensure its safe and effective use.
"Community pharmacies already play a significant role in harm minimisation that includes the supply of naloxone.
"However, the costs to patients remain a significant barrier, as the over-the-counter supply of naloxone from a pharmacy under Schedule 3 is not subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
"This should and must change to help assure patient access.
"A funded community pharmacy based model that supports the supply of naloxone in community pharmacies without the need of a voucher or other barrier to patient access should be part of the solution, particularly given that with a network of over 1,300 sites - community pharmacies are the most visited and accessible primary health care destination in Victoria."
Victorian Legislative Council Government Whip, Nina Taylor, noted the current State requirements that naloxone must be supplied by a health professional were a "significant barrier" to access for many drug users.
"Feedback from harm reduction providers indicates that the rate of people who proceed to a pharmacy for their naloxone after first attending a needle and syringe program can be as low as 50%," she said.
"You can see how that is counterproductive in terms of what we are trying to achieve here."
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