THE Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) has supported funding to embed non-dispensing pharmacists within Aboriginal Health Services.
The independent expert advice recognises the significant impact pharmacists could have when integrated into comprehensive primary healthcare teams.
MSAC has considered that the model is safe and effective compared to usual care.
It also stated that the estimated costs for providing this "integrated, collaborative, culturally appropriate patient-centred care to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples was good value for money".
Australia's principal medical advisory group's recommendation is based on a joint submission from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and James Cook University calling for funding for the Integrating Pharmacists within Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to improve Chronic Disease Management (IPAC) project.
The IPAC project integrated 26 pharmacists into 18 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) for 15 months across Queensland, Victoria, and the Northern Territory.
Through the project, some Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services embedded pharmacists directly into their services, while others worked with community pharmacies to deliver pharmacy services.
Chair of NACCHO Donnella Mills said, "having the support of MSAC confirms when pharmacists are present within our services, both patients and staff at the clinic are better supported to provide safe and effective use of medicine".
"Our member services have been calling for support and funding for non-dispensing pharmacists integrated into ACCHOs for years, this endorsement further validates their requests and demonstrates the impact of team-based community-controlled healthcare," Mills explained.
"Now that support for funding has been provided through the advisory committee, we look forward to working with the government on how it can be rolled out nationally," she concluded.
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