Pharmacy Daily | PSA highlights breadth of impactful work

THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) released its 2024 Impact Report today, highlighting its efforts in advancing the Quality Use of Medicines.

In the 2023-24 financial year, PSA's Projects team managed over 40 initiatives, collaborating with government entities, Primary Health Networks, and various healthcare stakeholders to tackle critical health issues.

The report also revealed the key projects that enhance medicine safety, address mental health needs, support Aboriginal health services, and expand palliative care.

The projects include mental health first aid training, where over 400 pharmacists and staff in South Australia identified early mental health concerns, with 97.3% of participants reporting greater confidence in providing initial support.

In handling the loneliness epidemic, the PSA launched a groundbreaking training program to address the widespread condition as a health risk, with over 1,200 pharmacists enrolled in the program's first three months, equipped with strategies to reduce social isolation and improve patient outcomes.

Additionally, in the area of palliative care, the PSA created foundational training pathways for pharmacists to upskill, alongside plans to pilot six new community palliative care pharmacist roles in 2025-26.

The report also shares individual stories, such as Natasha, a rural pharmacist supporting patients in end-of-life care, illustrating the impactful role pharmacists play in enhancing patient comfort, access, and safety.

PSA National President A/Prof Fei Sim acknowledged the collective effort behind these projects, as the peak body representing 39,000 pharmacists across all areas of practice.

"Projects are fundamental to allow innovative ideas to be trialled, validated and improved, and importantly generate the evidence that is needed to enable widescale implementation and translation into everyday policy and practice," Sim concluded.