PLANS to demerge Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services could provide the ideal opportunity for the State Government to appoint a Chief Pharmacist, Pharmacy Guild of Australia Victorian Branch President, Anthony Tassone believes.
Premier, Daniel Andrews, announced the plan to separate the department, as part of the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcoming the decision, Tassone said "on face value...[it] is a very sensible move".
"There have been challenges in being able to effectively and efficiently engage with the mega department that has been in place since 2015, particularly so during the COVID pandemic," he said.
"With the upcoming demerger of these departments, now is the right time to appoint a Chief Pharmacist to ensure sufficient and appropriate engagement with the pharmacy profession along with leadership in the Victorian public service, to best utilise the scope of practice of pharmacists to deliver and provide access to the best healthcare we can for all Victorians.
"The Guild has made representations to the recently appointed Victorian Minister for Health, Martin Foley, on this issue and continue to have constructive discussions with the Victorian Department to see this happen."
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