SECURING greater funding for professional services in the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement (8CPA) will be a key goal for the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
Speaking at the Guild Western Australian Branch's Pharmacy Forum last week, the Chair of the Guild's Health Economics and Policy Committee Chair and 8CPA negotiating team lead, Anthony Tassone, outlined plans to make full scope of practice a reality.
He said that if community pharmacy is to be a key provider of public health programs under the 8CPA, greater remuneration for pharmacy services will be critical.
Guild WA Branch President, Andrew Ngeow, also stressed the need for pharmacists to be empowered to provide more services to their communities.
"There is no doubt that community pharmacy is an accessible, tertiary-trained workforce, with skills and knowledge that is being underutilised," he said.
"At a time when there is a significant workforce shortage, and problems with the broader health system, to have the scope of practice restricted simply due to the regulatory framework we are practising in, makes no sense at all.
"Community pharmacy has an extensive track record of safe and cost-effective service delivery, which can be replicated across a greater range of services.
"Pharmacy's success in administering vaccines can and must be replicated to include additional services through pharmacists working at their full scope of practice."
WA Premier, Mark McGowan, also addressed the Forum reaffirming his commitment to expand pharmacy services.
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