PEAK bodies are celebrating the contribution of pharmacists across Australia’s healthcare system and are calling on the government and public to ‘Think health, think pharmacist’ on World Pharmacists Day today.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has called for a shift to a ‘pharmacy-first’ approach to healthcare to relieve pressure on GP clinics and hospital emergency departments, but observed that a lack of public awareness around the services pharmacists can offer means patients are missing out on fast, easily accessible care.
The Guild highlighted a YouGov survey of over 1,000 adults conducted earlier this month, that found many Australians remain unaware that pharmacists can treat common conditions, supply certain prescriptions and issue medical certificates.
This results in patients joining long GP queues and adding strain to an already stretched health system, when timely care can often be delivered immediately by a local pharmacist, the Guild noted.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Professor Trent Twomey, said the findings highlight the urgent need to unlock the full potential of pharmacies.
“Australians already make 440 million visits to their pharmacist each year, but half don’t know the full scope of care available,” Professor Twomey said.
“That mismatch is blocking access to faster, more local care, and it’s keeping pressure on GPs and hospitals when the system can least afford it.
“That’s a gap we can close today.”
A shift in mindset, to ‘think pharmacy-first’ for everyday health care need is required, Twomey said.
“The Guild is committed to freeing up our overstretched health system, and by expanding awareness of what’s already available, Australians can get the right care sooner, closer to home,” Professor Twomey concluded.
Meanwhile, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) said pharmacists are “key to a stronger health system”, and has called for governments and stakeholders to embrace the skills and knowledge of pharmacists as the health system evolves to meet the growing health needs of the Australian population.
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim said enabling pharmacists to provide timely, equitable and affordable services to the public, including in underserved areas, was key to strengthening the entire health system and providing better health outcomes for Australians.
“We need to empower pharmacists in community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy to do more for patients, utilising the full breadth and depth of their skills and knowledge.
“We also need much wider adoption of pharmacists in team-care-based roles in primary care.
“To achieve this, pharmacists must be supported with expanded prescribing rights, deeper integration into multidisciplinary teams, and greater involvement in chronic disease management.
“No matter their area of practice or stages of career, pharmacists should know that their work is appreciated and celebrated,” Assoc Prof Sim said.
She reflected that many of the health challenges facing Australia, such as medicines safety, access to care, and antimicrobial resistance, were shared around the world, and acknowledged the work of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and pharmacists everywhere.
“On behalf of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, we thank all pharmacists for what they do, day-in-day-out, supporting our patients and communities,” Sim concluded.
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