PSA congratulates Lia Finocchiaro and the Country Liberal Party on their election in the Northern Territory

30 August 2024

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The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) warmly congratulates Hon Lia Finocchiaro MLA and the Country Liberal Party (CLP) on being elected to government in the Northern Territory.

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PSA welcomes the CLP’s plan to expand pharmacy services in the community through the Pharmacy Scope of Practice program, which will offer additional health services for up to 21 conditions.

PSA also applauds the incoming government’s commitment to implement pharmacist prescribing for uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in women, within the first 100 days of government, bringing the Northern Territory in line with other Australian jurisdictions.

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​PSA Northern Territory and South Australia Vice President Colleen Niland MPS welcomed the commitment, and encouraged pharmacists to pursue the appropriate training, equipping them with everything they need to provide these services”

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“Empowering pharmacists to prescribe treatment for UTIs improves access to care, improves health outcomes across the Territory, particularly for rural and regional communities where access to healthcare services can be limited,” Ms Niland said.

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PSA’s online training program Managing uncomplicated cystitis (Urinary Tract Infection)is available now for pharmacists.

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By expanding scope, pharmacists can support primary healthcare services through timely and convenient access with community pharmacists able to treat other conditions like impetigo (school sores), travel health, smoking cessation and more.

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PSA is committed to working closely with the NT Government to ensure the program best meets the needs of Territorians and pharmacists have access to the necessary additional training.

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PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS also welcomed the announcements.

“Allowing pharmacists to practise to their full and top of scope makes efficient use of health resources, benefitting the broader health system.”

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“Our health system is under pressure. The time is now to look at innovative models of care where the skillsets of all health professionals, including pharmacists, can be fully utilised to build overall health system capacity as we continue to support our population’s health.

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​PSA National President, Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS is encouraging pharmacists to undertake training in anticipation of their expanding roles.

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​“Throughout scope expansion across the country, whether it is assessment and prescribing for management of UTIs, oral contraception or other acute and chronic condition management programs, PSA has been supporting pharmacists along the way,” Associate Professor Sim said.

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“PSA is committed to focusing on workforce preparation, including training, education, practice support and upskilling of pharmacists to undertake and deliver these services.

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“PSA looks forward to working with the NT Government as part of a collaborative approach to workforce preparation.”

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Pharmacists in 2030 is available to pharmacists and the public at www.psa.org.au/pharmacists_in_2030 

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Pharmacists encouraged to Wear it Purple and provide safe, inclusive care

30 August 2024

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The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is proud to support Wear It Purple Day and stand in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ youth.

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Wear It Purple Day was founded in 2010 in response to LGBTQIA+ youth taking their own lives following bullying and harassment resulting from a lack of acceptance of their sexuality or gender identity. The day strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people.

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Mental health and wellbeing outcomes of LGBTQIA+ people in Australia remain a concern with rates of diagnosed depression 6 times higher than the general population. Rates of suicide attempts are 5 times higher for LGBTQIA+ young people, while young transgender people are 15 times more likely to have a suicide attempt than the general population. These statistics bring sharply into focus the importance of providing safe and inclusive healthcare for rainbow young people.

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PSA is partnering with The University of Queensland (UQ) to foster inclusive and empowered primary care workforces through the Promoting queer-inclusive professional identities for diversity in primary healthcare (PRIDE co-design) project.

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As a PRIDE project partner, PSA will offer education and resources to help pharmacists improve the care they provide LGBTQIA+ patients.

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PSA’s recently released vision for the profession, Pharmacists in 2030, articulates six actions to realise the vision. One key action is Equity, supporting pharmacists to meet the unique needs of vulnerable individuals and priority populations to address the disparity of health status through the provision of appropriate and responsive care.

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PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS said there is still a long way to go to addressing health inequalities for LGBTQIA+ Australians.

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“Everyone has the right to safe, affirming health care,” Associate Professor Sim said.

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“PSA is committed to empower all pharmacists, through education and professional development, to provide culturally appropriate care to all population groups.

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“As some of the most accessible health care professionals, pharmacists have a duty of care to patients to ensure that healthcare is provided in a way that is inclusive and appropriate for all people.

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“We have an enormous opportunity to improve these confronting statistics and ensure that young people feel safe and supported seeking mental and physical health support.

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“PSA wants to ensure all pharmacists have the confidence and knowledge to deliver safe and equitable health care.

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“I challenge pharmacists to embrace the resources and training available through the PRIDE project to ensure they deliver inclusive and affirming models of care for LGBTQIA+ people in our communities.’

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PRIDE Project leader and Chief Investigator Dr Megan Ross highlighted the importance of creating a culture of safe and supportive environments for LGBTQIA+ people.

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“Building the capacity of the primary health workforce to deliver safe and affirming care addresses a current gap in primary care.

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“Over half of LGBTQIA+ Australians have reported discrimination due to their sexual orientation, and almost 80% of people who are trans or gender diverse have experienced discrimination due to their gender identity. Stigma and discrimination in the health care context can lead to delaying or avoiding healthcare entirely which contributes to greater health disparities experienced by LGBTQIA+ communities.

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“A multi-disciplinary affirming provider network will facilitate access to continuous, trustable safe and affirming care across the primary care landscape for LGBTQIA+ consumers, and we are proud to partner with PSA on the PRIDE project initiative.”

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Pharmacists in 2030 is available to pharmacists and the public at www.psa.org.au/pharmacists_in_2030

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PSA Calls for the removal of vaccination red tape

20 August 2024 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is calling for the removal of vaccination red tape and for national harmonisation of pharmacist vaccination scope to ensure all Australians have equitable access to vaccination services.

The Australian Immunisation Handbook serves as the national vaccination formulary. Pharmacists, along with all Australian healthcare professionals who are immunisers, should adopt this as the national standard for defining vaccine formularies, instead of relying on complex regulatory instruments unique to each state and territory.

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Regardless of location, everyone should have access to the same vaccine formulary at their community pharmacy.  Vaccines should be as accessible as possible to those who need them most, at a time and place of their choosing.

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Reducing barriers to vaccination uptake should be a priority to improve equity and access to the health care system. Australians are increasingly turning to pharmacists for vaccinations. Empowering pharmacists to provide this essential service, in a consistent manner across jurisdictions, will be key to reaching the immunisation target in Australia.

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The approval of a vaccine to protect Australians against the highly infectious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a valuable addition to the vaccines available in community pharmacies. Residents of South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory would welcome the availability of the RSV vaccine at their local pharmacies, as is the case in other all jurisdictions across the country.

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Pharmacists in 2030 is the PSA’s vision for the future of the pharmacy profession and outlines a road map demonstrating how pharmacists can reach their full potential over the next 6 years, ultimately improving quality use of medicines and medicines stewardship and Australians’ access to care in an equitable, consistent and sustainable manner.  Removing regulations that prevent pharmacists from administering all vaccines to all at risk Australians would be a crucial first step towards realising this vision.

Quotes attributed to PSA National President, Associate Professor Fei Sim 

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“Pharmacists are underutilised in many states and territories, with regulatory barriers preventing them from practising to their full potential when providing vaccination services.”

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“Pharmacists have demonstrated competency in delivering vaccines safely and effectively. Leveraging the accessibility of pharmacists to administer a greater range of vaccines would significantly improve uptake and reduce hospitalisations from vaccine preventable diseases.”

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“Allowing pharmacists to deliver childhood vaccinations, including influenza vaccines, provides Australians with greater choice and equitable access to vaccines.”

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“Allowing pharmacists to practise to the top of their scope makes efficient use of health resources, benefitting the broader health system.”

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“With the Continuing Professional Development cycle for pharmacists ending on 30 September, I encourage all pharmacist immunisers to visit PSA Vaccination Education Hub to help you meet your professional requirements and maintain competence in vaccination services.”

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“PSA offers a variety of immunisation educational resources for pharmacists, including the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) module and the Vaccination Webinar Series.  The next webinar in this series focuses on promoting pharmacy vaccination services, particularly for adolescents who missed HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination due to COVID lockdowns.”

Pharmacists in 2030 is available to pharmacists and the public at www.psa.org.au/pharmacists_in_2030