THE Remote and Isolated Pharmacists Association of Australia (RIPAA) has welcomed new initiatives expanding pharmacist scope of practice for Tasmania and Victoria, but warns remote and isolated pharmacies are not currently being adequately supported to provide these services.
RIPAA acknowledges that pharmacist prescribing and expanded pharmacy services are a vital step forward in addressing healthcare disparities in rural and remote communities, where access to doctors and specialists can be limited.
"By enabling pharmacists to treat common conditions and prescribe medications, patients in these areas can receive timely, convenient care closer to home, reducing travel burdens and wait times," a spokesperson said.
However, they pointed out that pharmacists in remote and rural areas face barriers that limit their full potential.
"By way of example, very few remote and isolated (MM5-7) pharmacies took part in the Queensland Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice pilot, with workforce constraints and funding barriers preventing the pharmacies that are best positioned to do more for their communities from being involved," the spokesperson said.
"Remote and isolated pharmacies are not currently being adequately supported to address these issues.
"Pharmacists who practice in these locations are concerned as to whether and to what extent pharmacist prescribing will reach the underserved communities that need it the most."
Even with a subsidy for the cost of the consult, as per the Victorian initiative (PD 20 May), there are still concerns as to whether smaller rural and remote pharmacies will be able to implement these services.
"It is important to emphasise that the cost of delivering healthcare services varies between metropolitan versus rural and remote areas, and there is currently no effective mechanism for the delivery of these pharmacy services that accounts for that difference," the RIPAA spokesperson told Pharmacy Daily.
"Any assistance in consultation funding also needs to go hand-in-hand with training considerations for isolated and remote pharmacists, as these populations have worse health outcomes and fewer health workers."
RIPAA highlighted challenges facing rural practices that need to be addressed, including sustainable funding models - beyond the initial training subsidies - to support rural prescribing services; workforce shortages; additional investment needed for infrastructure and technology; and professional support, mentorship and peer support.
"RIPAA's concern is that without better support to address these challenges, expanded pharmacy services may only be made available in metropolitan centres and regional hubs where access to healthcare is relatively better," they said.
"RIPAA is calling on both state and federal governments to work together to support community pharmacies in thin rural markets to deliver expanded services."
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