TASMANIAN pharmacy owners will gain access to an additional $1 million a year in funding to deliver after hours and primary health services, if the Labor Party wins this weekend's State election.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia Tasmanian Branch announced it has co-signed a Statement of Strategic Intent with the State Labour Party, which will see pharmacists play a greater role in the provision of health services across the island.
The State opposition has also promised to match the Gutwein Government's pledge to "move to enable pharmacist immunisers access to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for the first time" (PD 22 Apr).
Tasmanian Guild Branch President, Helen O'Byrne, said the statement outlined "a firm commitment that if elected to government, Labor will ensure that older and vulnerable people who are eligible for free vaccination services under the NIP will be able to receive these in their local community, throught their pharmacy", while also commiting to support the current ownership model.
"It is no secret that pharmacy owners are highly invested into their practises, both professionally and financially", O'Byrne said.
"Ensuring ownership of pharmacies by registered pharmacists preserves the integrity of medication services provided to the community, ensuring equitable access across our State.
"It is pleasing to see that Tasmanian Labor recognises the significant pressures on the state's health system and also recognises the pivotal role of the community pharmacy sector in delivering medicines and primary health services to the Tasmanian community."
O'Byrne also welcomed both political parties' commitments to expanding community pharmacists' scope of practice, noting she would like to see Tasmania conduct a similar trial to the Urinary Tract Infection Pharmacy Pilot - Queensland, which enables eligible pharmacists to provide empirical treatment to non-pregnant women with acute cystitis, through the supply of antibiotics.
"International evidence supports full scope of practice for pharmacists," she said.
"With health systems dealing with increasingly complex presentations there are many opportunities to utilise community pharmacies to achieve better health outcomes.
"Through utilising the community pharmacy network and enabling pharmacists to work to their full scope of practice, the State can achieve a more sustainable hospital system and ensure better local healthcare access for all Tasmanians."
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