LEGISLATION that will give the Pharmacy Regulation Authority of South Australia (PRASA) the power to authorise telepharmacy services on a permanent basis is before the State's Legislative Council.
South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade, said the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (South Australia) (Telepharmacy) Amendment Bill would boost access to pharmacy services.
"The purpose of this bill is to make permanent the legal provisions for the authorising of telepharmacy in South Australia," he said.
"Similar temporary provisions were supported by members as part of the COVID-19 Emergency Response (Further Measures) (No.2) Amendment Bill.
"These provisions were extended with the passage of the COVID-19 Emergency Response (Expiry and Rent) Amendment Bill 2020 and are set to expire on 06 Feb 2021.
"Telepharmacy is the provision of pharmaceutical care and products to a patient through the use of video and audio telecommunication, where the pharmacist is not physically present in a pharmacy."
Under the proposed legislation PRASA may only allow the provision of telepharmacy services where the authorisation is necessary to ensure that pharmacy services are available to people who would not have direct and timely access to those services, while pharmacy service providers must ensure that a relevant code of conduct is complied with when providing telepharmacy services.
Wade noted that technology was enabling the enhancement of safety and quality of care for the community through access to pharmacy services where they would otherwise be unavailable.
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