AUSTRALIA needs its health professionals working to the full extent of their scope of practice to deliver the best outcomes for patients, Federal Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health, Emma McBride, believes.
Speaking on a webinar hosted by Blooms The Chemist last night, the pharmacist-turned-politician, said exisiting remuneration systems had "limited" the profession's ability to deliver for individuals and society more broadly.
"We have a cohort of highly trained expert health practitioners," she said.
"And I think that in the past they've been limited because of the way that pharmacy has been set up, remunerated or the systems they've been working in have put a ceiling on what they can contribute.
"Pharmacists are experts, they're trained, they're experienced, they're capable and they have so much to contribute, and the benefits to individuals and communities, but also our economy are significant.
"It's more about the system recognising and remunerating them for that, that will really see the transformation that we need.
"If we are to genuinely see a transformation in health outcomes in Australia then we need to see every person working within health working to the top of their scope, so we can see a real lift and improvement in health outcomes across Australia."
McBride also noted the increasing role pharmacists are playing in the area of mental health.
"We're in the middle of a global pandemic and so many people's livelihoods are being impacted as many people have found themselves out of work who've never been out of work before, and we sadly know the link between financial distress and mental health," she said.
"Pharmacists are there on the frontline, often as accidental counsellors, and it's really welcome to see so many pharmacists now doing mental health first aid and other mental health training.
"Pharmacists are really there on the frontline, someone can walk into the pharmacy, doesn't need to make an appointment and you're there supporting them."
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