AUSTRALIAN health policy makers are being urged to allow pharmacists to use their "training to the full", following the release of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia's Community Pharmacies: Part of the Solution policy paper.
The document released this morning in Sydney called for pharmacists to be given a bigger role within the health system to improve patients' access to treatment services.
Guild National President, George Tambassis, noted half a million Australians have avoided visiting their GP because of concerns about costs.
"The policy basis is clear, the Australian health system is not adapting to our ageing and growing population, leaving Australian families frustrated by long GP wait times and increasing out-of-pocket expenses," he said.
"We found allowing pharmacists to perform to their full scope in the health system -- including treating common ailments, dispensing medication for stable and ongoing medical conditions, and administering vaccines, could relieve pressure on GPs and Emergency Departments (EDs), freeing them up to spend more time with their patients.
"The policy paper found pharmacists are in a unique position to relieve the stresses and strains on the health system by fulfilling their scope of practice.
"They give more free health advice than any other health professional with more than 451 million visits to community pharmacies last year alone.
"This would see pharmacists use their training to the full.
"Pharmacists playing a bigger role in the health systems overseas has seen savings for consumers and government and made care more accessible.
"What we saw especially in Canada and the UK, where pharmacists practised at their full scope meant less pressure on GPs and EDs, better outcomes for patients, and a more affordable and accessible healthcare system.
"According to the policy paper pharmacists would only treat to the extent of their training and are quick to refer patients to their GP or an ED when their health issue was beyond this training or patients needed reassurance.
"Community pharmacies are the most accessible place to get health advice.
"It makes sense to make the most of pharmacists as part of the solution to the healthcare concerns of Australians."
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