PSA launches issues paper
May 21, 2010
THE Pharmaceutical Society of
Australia is encouraging all sectors
of the pharmacy industry to take
part in a consultation process
launched today to help shape the
future of pharmacy in Australia.
The PSA has released an Issues
Paper on the Future of Pharmacy as
a first step, which is hoped to lead
to a White Paper for the Pharmacy
Profession next year, endorsed by
all stakeholders.
PSA National President Warwick
Plunkett told PD yesterday the
changing demographics in Australia
and the government’s focus on
primary care and health reform are
likely to “present challenges to the
roles played by pharmacists and
other health professionals.”
The recent signing of the Fifth
Community Pharmacy Agreement
gives some breathing space for all
parts of pharmacy to have input
into the process, Plunkett said.
The PSA paper aims to kick off
the process, giving an overview of
the current status of pharmacy in
Australia and hoping to stimulate
debate on the challenges and
opportunities for the profession in
coming years.
ABOVE: PSA’s National President Warwick Plunkett and Director
John Jackson with the new issues paper in Sydney yesterday.
“Some of the issues we will need
to examine are change and change
management, remuneration, the
workforce and health reform
processes, to name but a few.
“The changes and challenges for
pharmacy are not unique to
Australia, and other countries have
similarly sought to establish a vision
for the future of pharmacy which
will undoubtedly have some lessons
for the Australian experience,”
Plunkett said, referring in particular
to similar profession-wide processes
undergone in the UK and Canada.
The issues paper looks at the
future viability of pharmacy,
possible alternative remuneration
models, integration of hospital and
community pharmacy services and
the pharmacy workforce.
The paper is now online,and it’s
hoped that groups such as the
Guild, SHPA and other parts of the
profession will also contribute ideas.
The consultation is likely to be the
focus of part of the PSA’s Pharmacy
Australia Congress to be held in
Melbourne at the end of October.
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