Skills underutilised – PSA
January 6, 2014
The extensive training and
expertise of pharmacists is largely
under-utilised in the Australian
healthcare environment according
to the Pharmaceutical Society of
Australia.
Commenting on proposals for a
$5 co-payment fee to be applied for
all visits to a GP, and possibly also
for emergency department visits,
the ceo of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Australia, Liesel Wett,
said Australia was lagging in making
full use of pharmacists’ abilities.
“Pharmacists are the
most accessible of all health
professionals and are trained and
equipped to deal with a wide range
of minor ailments which currently
are often unnecessarily undertaken
by doctors,” Ms Wett said.
Ms Wett went on to argue that
because pharmacists are second
only to nurses as “most-trusted
health care professionals”, there
would be a wide public acceptance
of their increased role providing
these additional services.
In addition, she added that the
recent Grattan Institute report on
New solutions for GP shortages
in rural Australia underscored
the need for GPs to be better
supported by pharmacists and
other health professionals.
“The report says, ‘The first step
is to make much better use of
pharmacists’ skills.’
“Pharmacists are highly trained,
have deep expertise in medicines,
and are located in communities
throughout Australia.
“But their role is far more limited
in Australia than in many other
countries.”
One immediately accessible
service the report identified is
immunisation which is managed by
pharmacists in many countries such
as the US, Canada, Portugal, Ireland
and the UK and has been trialled
successfuly in New Zealand and
Australia.
“The PSA has issued guidelines
for providing immunisation services
with a view to promoting best
practice and the delivery of highquality
immunisation services in
pharmacies and to ensure that
no gaps exist in this public health
program,” Wett added.
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