MEASURES restricting the prescribing of opioids through smaller pack sizes will reduce medication-related harm, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) believes.
Welcoming the introduction of revised Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listings to include halved pack sizes for opioid products including oxycodone, tramadol and morphine, with no increased quantities or repeats for patients requiring short-term relief from acute pain, SHPA CEO, Kristen Michaels, said the move would prevent unnecessary harm caused by opioids initiated in hospital settings.
"On behalf of SHPA members and their hospital colleagues who care for Australia's most acutely unwell, we welcome these changes, which correlate to recommendations made in our 2018 report, which was informed by data from 135 metropolitan, regional and rural Australian hospitals," she said.
"The Federal Government is to be commended for its support for smaller pack sizes for opioids, better labelling, warnings and consumer information for opioid medicines, and additional restrictions on the use and prescribing of opioids for longer term use, all of which help reduce the prescribing and dispensing of opioids in quantities that are in excess of patient need.
"Hospital pharmacists are passionate about protecting the health and recovery of patients as they receive care in hospital, and our members should be proud of these patient-centred improvements they have helped initiate.
"Importantly, we remain committed to further reform, as our data showed less than 5% of hospitals have formal opioid stewardship programs, which are showing good progress in reducing unnecessary opioid supply, and even fewer have invested in other innovative responses to address this ongoing problem.
"In the immediate term, this year we are pleased to roll out education on appropriate use of opioids and pain management alternatives -- alongside the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia in partnership with the Therapeutics Goods Administration -- and we will continue to build and strengthen relationships that support optimal pharmacist and prescribing practices, in the interests of community safety."
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