PHARMACY Guild National President, Trent Twomey, today at APP2023 reflected on his last two years heading up the organisation, noting it had been exciting, challenging and frustrating.
"Proudly the community pharmacy industry is stronger today than it was a year ago or indeed two years ago," he said, adding "there is no doubt a 'decade of change' has commenced".
He recounted significant changes, including the new Federal Government and its "iron clad assurances" that the current pharmacy ownership and location provisions will be maintained.
The reduction in the general patient co-payment from $42.50 to $30 was also a major achievement, leading to an annual $190 million saving for consumers.
However "this welcomed reduction is only the first step...we need to do more - we need to get the general patient co-payment down to $19," he said.
"We all know affordability is critical to medicine adherence...at this level, 70% of PBS medicines would be more affordable for 19 million Australians."
Other issues highlighted included the ongoing workforce crisis, which is a "constant reminder for all of us just how quickly the environment in our sector can change".
Twomey noted a workforce capability project being undertaken by the Guild, including supply and demand modelling, remuneration, career pathways, qualifications, training needs, employment classifications & scope of practice.
"We don't want to turn around in a few years' time and wonder what the correct strategies could have been and what we could have been put in place to ensure Pharmacy is a desirable career with great employees and employers," he said.
Also on the agenda is the creation of a Doctor of Pharmacy title for graduates who complete an Extended Masters, as a way of recognising their additional training.
"In addition, it will recognise our competency to work at full scope of practice," Twomey noted, also citing other pharmacy training issues including lower levels of funding for University pharmacy schools than for many other professions.
President Twomey's wide-ranging speech also touched on the Guild Intern Training Program, which he described as "the only and best way to be an accredited pharmacist upon general registration".
He highlighted the exciting developments in scope of practice across the country; the Guild's aged care reform strategy aiming to support people living at home rather than "pulling pharmacists out of community pharmacies and being placed in Aged Care facilities"; and the work already in progress on the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement, which will build on previous agreements and learn from them, "including capturing full scope of practice".
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