PROMISES of increased funding for new medicines will mean little if $44 million cuts to hospital pharmacy are implemented, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) warns.
SHPA CEO, Kristin Michaels, said the "Improving Access to Medicines - supporting community pharmacy" measure included in last month's Federal Budget, would severely impact jobs and funding for hospital-based medicines safety programs (PD 24 Apr).
"Information provided by the Department of Health indicates the funding cut will remove $44 million from Australian hospitals annually, the majority from public hospitals," she said.
"The PBS is an invaluable mechanism improving equity of medicines access for all Australians, but it must be funded appropriately to ensure high-quality patient care, and that includes pharmacy review, counselling and medicines management.
"Rather than quietly cutting funds to the people who are experts in medicine management in acute settings, the government should be increasing support for hospital pharmacies to ensure that, as more and more complex medicines are added to the PBS, they can be used optimally and provided to more patients as effectively as possible.
"Hospital pharmacists are a key part of the multidisciplinary team and this budget cut will reduce their ability to provide patient services in the right place, at the right time -- jobs will be lost and fewer patients will be able to be treated," Michaels said.
She said the SHPA had been speaking to all major parties about the changes "however we are yet to see evidence of any measures to reduce the negative impact of these cuts".
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 03 May 19
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 03 May 19
