GREATER injection rights, a Chief Pharmacist and funding for transition-of-care pharmacists are on the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Queensland Branch's State election wish-list.
In a pre-election plea, PSA Queensland Branch President, Shane McDonald, called on politicians from across the spectrum to back reforms to extend the scope of pharmacists in the State, to improve the health of Queenslanders.
"PSA urges all political parties to allow pharmacists to administer more routine medicines, such as injectable buprenorphine, insulin or Vitamin B12, to improve Queensland patients' management of complex health conditions," he said.
"Pharmacists are skilled in administering simple injections however, Queensland law currently limits the medicines which can be administered to some vaccines and adrenaline.
"Amending regulations will remove the barrier artificially preventing pharmacists from providing safe, convenient and timely healthcare to Queenslanders and be at no cost to the Queensland Government."
McDonald said that establishing and funding transition-of-care pharmacists in all tertiary hospitals across the State could help reduce the burden and cost of care related to medication-related readmissions.
"Employing transition-of-care pharmacists to work with the patient's care team through outpatient consultations or providing services can reduce medicine harm," he said.
"Whether this be through reviewing medicines for patients who had experienced a heart attack, phoning patients to help safely wean doses of steroid medicines or coordinating medicines for patients with complex medicine profiles."
The PSA leader added the appointment of a Chief Pharmacist would provide strategic leadership in improving medicines safety.
"The absence of a Chief Pharmacist in Queensland during COVID-19 saw delays in implementing vital initiatives to support continuing medicine supply, such as digital image prescriptions and electronic prescriptions," McDonald said.
"A Chief Pharmacist is needed to provide advice and leadership for timely government responses to emergencies as they occur and to deliver on Queensland's commitment to Australia's 10th National Health Priority Area: The Safe and Quality Use of Medicines."
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