Think Health, Think Pharmacist!: Pharmacists key to a stronger health system

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is celebrating the contribution of pharmacists across Australia’s healthcare system this World Pharmacists Day (September 25) and calls for governments and stakeholders to embrace the skills and knowledge of pharmacists as the health system evolves to meet the ballooning health needs of the Australian population.

 

More than 40,000 registered pharmacists in Australia contribute daily to the provision of high-quality clinical care to the Australian population in primary care, hospital, and community settings.  This collective contribution makes the use of medicines safer across the whole medicine management cycle – from patient assessment and prescribing through to medicine review.

 

However, to support the increasingly complex health needs of Australia’s ageing population, the knowledge and skills of pharmacists are needed in more primary and tertiary care settings and available more consistently.

 

PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS said enabling pharmacists to provide timely, equitable and affordable services to the public, including in underserved areas, was the key to strengthen our entire health system and provide better health outcomes for Australians.

 

“While most people know pharmacists practise in community pharmacies and hospitals, an increasing number of pharmacists now practise in general practice, aged care, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, consultancy, academia and a whole range of non-clinical roles linked to quality use of medicines,” she said.

 

“No matter their area of practice or stages of career, pharmacists should know that their work is appreciated and celebrated. 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.

 

“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.

 

“Medicines are the most common intervention in health care; and pharmacists are the medicines experts. Pharmacists are needed wherever medicines are prescribed, dispensed, administered or reviewed. This is why the theme ‘Think Health, Think Pharmacist’ for World Pharmacist’s Day today is so important.”

 

A/Prof Sim reflected that many of the health challenges facing Australia, such as medicines safety, access to care, and antimicrobial resistance, were shared around the world.

 

“We also share many of the same goals, such as a strong, sustainable health system, and access to care where and when it is needed. Achieving these goals will deliver better outcomes for patients in any country,” she said.

 

“On this day, I acknowledge the work of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and our pharmacist colleagues around the world.”

 

Media contact: David Westman  M: 0480 099 798  E: david.westman@psa.org.au

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is the only national peak body that represents all of Australia’s pharmacists across all practice settings. We want every Australian to have access to the best healthcare, and this must include optimising access to pharmacists’ knowledge and medicines expertise at the forefront of our healthcare system.