STEVE Morris, CEO of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), is calling on pharmacists to play a crucial role in addressing healthcare's environmental impact.
Morris was recently appointed to the Climate & Health Expert Advisory Group which supports the delivery of the National Health and Climate Strategy.
Speaking to Pharmacy Daily this week, Morris highlighted the staggering contribution of healthcare to climate change.
He said, "healthcare accounts for 7% of Australia's total carbon emissions, and medicines make up 19% of that figure".
Morris outlined three areas where pharmacists can make a difference - preventing ill health, reducing inappropriate care, and delivering care sustainably.
He stressed that preventing illness is fundamental, and explained that, "the more healthcare interventions we have, the greater the impact on climate".
Reducing inappropriate care is another vital area, with Morris emphasising the importance of deprescribing, and optimising medication use to reduce waste and improve patient outcomes.
He pointed to asthma treatment as a prime example.
"Asthma inhalers, particularly short-acting types, are estimated to contribute over 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually in Australia," said Morris.
"By prescribing the right inhalers and educating patients, pharmacists can directly influence both health outcomes and environmental impact."
Morris also highlighted the environmental challenges of packaging and noted the need for more sustainable packaging and improved recycling efforts.
The PSA CEO underscoredthe importance of sustainable delivery between the manufacture of medicines and reaching patientsand suggested revisiting suppliers' efforts to reduce waste. JG
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 03 Sep 24
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 03 Sep 24
