Medicine safety should be a priority in 2019-20 Federal Budget

Wednesday 6 February 2019

Innovative and cost-effective solutions to current health system challenges, including harm caused by medicine misuse, have been recommended by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) in its 2019-20 Federal Budget submission.

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman said PSA’s Medicine Safety: Take Care report, released last week, showed medicine safety was a major problem in Australia.

“PSA’s Medicine Safety report reveals that 250,000 people go to hospital each year because of medicine misuse, costing the health system $1.4 billion annually,” Dr Freeman said.

“Every day, pharmacists are faced with situations where the health system fails to meet their patients’ needs. Pharmacists want to use their knowledge to provide more effective care.

“The public considers pharmacists approachable, knowledgeable and highly trusted. People value pharmacists’ expertise and want to see it put to full use.

“However, structural and funding barriers are holding pharmacists back from participating in key Government initiatives. As the peak national body for pharmacists, PSA has made cost-effective recommendations for removing these obstacles and maximising the safe use of medicines.”

PSA recommends the 2019-20 Federal Budget makes provision to:

• Provide seed funding to embed pharmacists in residential aged care facilities to improve the Quality Use of Medicines and in particular to reduce harm caused by overuse of psychotropic medicines, opioids and antibiotics
• Grow the extensive immunisation network in primary care to boost vaccination rates
• Facilitate the appointment of a Commonwealth Chief Pharmacist to improve the Commonwealth Government’s coordination and responsiveness to medication issues in Australia’s complex healthcare system
• Establish funding mechanisms to facilitate collaborative practice between Aboriginal Health Services and community pharmacies
• Add pharmacists to the list of eligible allied health professionals that can deliver MBS services to patients with chronic diseases under the allied health chronic disease management items.

These recommendations aim to enhance the Government’s existing health investments and do not duplicate or inhibit any initiatives in the 6th Community Pharmacy Agreement.

“The 2019-20 Federal Budget is an opportunity to enhance the use of pharmacists’ skills and expertise for the betterment of Australia’s health,” Dr Freeman said. “We urge the Government to partner with pharmacists to unlock this opportunity by funding the initiatives in PSA’s submission.”

Media contact:

Jarryd Luke
Senior Communications Officer
0487 922 176

Alyssa Murray wins Pharmacy Student of the Year Wildcard

Sunday January 27, 2019

Alyssa Murray from Queensland has won the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA) Wildcard for the 2019 PSA Pharmacy Student of the Year (PSOTY) Award.

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman announced the award at the NAPSA Congress Gala Ball in Adelaide tonight.

Dr Freeman congratulated Ms Murray on her exceptional achievement.

“Ms Murray and all of the finalists demonstrated exceptional counselling skills and impressive pharmacy knowledge,” Dr Freeman said.

“It was great to see so much talent on display at the competition today.

“Seeing these rising stars in action fills me with confidence about the future of the profession.”

Ms Murray is completing a Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Queensland and is a member of the Queensland Pharmacy Students Association (QPSA).

The judges were impressed by the strong field of finalists:

• Noor Shoaib, La Trobe University (VIC)
• Vivien Banks, University of Queensland (QLD)
• Jacqui Leggett, Queensland University of Technology (QLD)
• Stephanie Samios, University of Queensland (QLD)
• Sean Richardson, University of South Australia (SA)

The award is proudly sponsored by Mylan.

Ms Murray will now travel to PSA’s national conference PSA19 from 26 to 28 July 2019 in Sydney to compete in the prestigious national final.

“PSA thanks Mylan for their fantastic support of this award,” Dr Freeman said.

Media contact:
Jarryd Luke
Senior Communications Officer
0487 922 176
media@psa.org.au

Pharmacists recognised in Australia Day Honours

Saturday January 26, 2019

Respected pharmacists and PSA members Grant Kardachi FPS, Dr Geraldine Moses FPS, Emil Dan FPS, Dr Carol Armour FPS and Dr Ross Holland FPS have been congratulated by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) for being awarded the status of Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

PSA also applauds PSA members Geoffrey Pritchard FPS, Leonard Levy MPS and Robert Kalaf MPS for receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Pharmacists Jim Siderov, Paul Sinclair and Bakhos Georges were also honoured with the Member of the Order of Australia during the Australia Day celebrations last night.

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman congratulated all of the pharmacists who were recognised.

“I applaud all of the exceptional pharmacists for their tireless dedication to their profession, to their community’s health and to their peak national body, PSA,” Dr Freeman said.

“The pharmacy profession has been well represented in this year’s awards. It’s inspiring to see so many pharmacists honoured for their pioneering work to improve Australia’s health.

“These respected leaders and role models have set an inspiring example for our profession.”

Mr Kardachi from Unley Park in South Australia is a past National President and current National Board Director of PSA. Mr Kardachi has owned several community pharmacies while supporting research projects in medication management. He has served the state of South Australia through various foundations, boards and committees.

From Corinda in Queensland, Dr Moses is a hospital-based drug information consultant and clinical pharmacist. She provides the Australian Dental Association’s national drug information advisory service Pharma-Advice. Dr Moses is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Queensland and co-founder of medicines education service Pharmeducation. She has served as a member of the PSA Queensland Branch Committee and received PSA’s prestigious Bowl of Hygeia Award in 1993.

Mr Dan from Marourbra in NSW received a PSA Lifetime Award of Excellence in 2009 and has since become a PSA Life Fellow. He was an early pioneer of asthma research in Australia, founding the anti-allergy and asthma treatment initiative Allersearch. His groundbreakng work in this area also includes research for smoking cessation services in pharmacy at the Woolcock Institute of Respiratory Medicine, and lecturing for PSA and the Asthma Foundation.

Dr Armour is a Professor of Pharmacy and Associate Dean of Career Development, Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney. She was recognised for significant service to medical education and asthma management.

Dr Holland was recognised for significant service to pharmacy practice, medical education and professional organisations. Hailing from NSW, he is a PSA Life Fellow and has served as the Dean of Academic Studies at the Australian College of Pharmacy Practice. He is a Past Faculty Member of the World Health Organisation Regional Teacher Training Centre, South Korean Clinical Pharmacy Association.

Recognised for his service to the pharmacy profession, Mr Pritchard from Milsons Point in NSW is a PSA Life Fellow and served as a Liaison Officer for the PSA NSW Branch. His contributions include Director of Pharmacy Services at the Sydney Olympic Games and a number of roles at the Pharmacy Council of New South Wales.

Mr Levy from North Caulfield in Victoria has made longstanding contributions to the Victorian Branch of PSA, including as a Councillor and Chair of various committees. He has contributed many years of service to the Pharmacy Board of Victoria.

Mr Kalaf has worked as a pharmacist at Cooranbong Pharmacy and Compounding in NSW for more than 25 years. His community service roles include President of the Cooranbong Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Sewerage Development Committee and Member of the Tidy Towns Committee.

Media contact:
Jarryd Luke
Senior Communications Officer
0487 922 176

Pharmacists support pill testing

January 23, 2019

In the wake of recent deaths from illicit drug use at festivals, pill testing and drug checking services should be trialled in Australia, according to a new position statement by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman said PSA believed further pill testing trials should be conducted at music festivals and other environments where illicit drug use occurs.

PSA’s position supports the recent call by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians as well as other medical groups to implement further pill testing trials at music festivals.

Pill testing is a harm minimisation service that analyses the content of illicit drugs to warn people about unknown and potentially lethal contaminants. In 2011, illicit drug use caused 2.3% of the total burden of disease and injury in Australia.

Dr Freeman said PSA considers pill testing to be consistent with the principles of harm reduction and supports further trials to inform the role of pill testing in Australia.

“Pill testing informs people of the risks of illicit drugs without giving the impression that the drugs are safe – they are still illegal and potentially harmful,” he said.

“Pill testing was successfully trialled at the Groovin’ The Moo festival in Canberra last year, and PSA supports further trials in each jurisdiction in Australia.”

Pharmacists have a long and established role in harm minimisation, from Opioid Replacement Therapy and needle and syringe programs to providing naloxone.

However, Australia is lagging behind other countries where pharmacists play a more prominent role in minimising harm from illicit drugs.

“Outside of emergency settings, Australia has no ongoing sanctioned pill testing services, even though evidence shows young people are supportive of these services and would use them,” Dr Freeman said.

“Several European countries already provide these services, including the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and France.

“The evidence from Europe is clear: pill testing saves lives. It’s time to invest in national trials and research so we can make informed decisions about pill testing.

“Law enforcement by itself does not stop people from dying but pill testing, as a supplement strategy, can.”

Media contact:
Jarryd Luke
Senior Communications Officer
0487 922 176

Pharmacy banner and buying groups urged to remove homeopathy from their shelves

Community pharmacy banner and buying groups should draw a line in the sand and cease all activities that encourage the stocking, promotion, recommendation or marketing of homeopathy, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) said today.

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman published an open letter and wrote to major banner and buying groups, stating that many people were not aware that there was no reliable evidence for the use of homeopathic products.

“Public health is put at risk if people choose homeopathy over treatments that evidence shows are safe and effective,” he said.

PSA provided advice to pharmacists in its Choosing Wisely recommendations last month. One of the six recommendations is: “Do not promote or provide homeopathic products as there is no reliable evidence of efficacy. Where patients choose to access homeopathic treatments, health professionals should discuss the lack of benefit with patients.”

“Where there are homeopathic products available from community pharmacies, patients may see this as a de-facto endorsement,” Dr Freeman said.

The supply of homeopathic products is in contravention of the PSA Code of Ethics for Pharmacists. The Code of Ethics, recognised by the Pharmacy Board of Australia, states that pharmacists should only “supply or promote any medicine, complementary medicine, herbal remedy or other healthcare product where there is credible evidence of efficacy and the benefit of use outweighs the risk.”

“The PSA Code of Ethics makes it clear that homeopathic products should not be stocked or sold in community pharmacies. Banner and buying groups should do everything in their power to remove these products from their shelves,” Dr Freeman said.

“I congratulate the community pharmacists who have made the decision to remove these products from their shelves, or are planning to do so. We need to lead by example so patients continue to see community pharmacy as a health destination that provides the best possible evidence-based care.

“I look forward to community pharmacy groups committing to ensure patients receive robust health advice and are not misled into believing homeopathic products have any evidence of benefit.”

Media contact:
Jarryd Luke
Senior Communications Officer
0487 922 176

PSA supports Uluru Statement from the Heart

January 10, 2019

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has endorsed the historic Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for a First Nations Voice to be enshrined in the Constitution and for a Makarrata Commission as a process for agreement making and truth telling.

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman said PSA was proud to add its voice to the call for recognition of the First Peoples of Australia in the Constitution.

“PSA is committed to ongoing work to support the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart’s call for constitutional reforms to empower people to have their views heard in relation to making laws and policies that affect their lives.

“We are proud to add our voice to this movement for a better future.”

Generational disadvantage continues to have a detrimental impact on the physical and mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“As the peak national body for pharmacists, PSA has long advocated for closing the gap by supporting pharmacists to play an active role in improving medication management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Dr Freeman said.

“Pharmacists must work collaboratively with Aboriginal Health Organisations to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

PSA is collaborating with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) on the Integrating Pharmacists within Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to Improve Chronic Disease Management (IPAC) trial.

This pioneering project aims to improve chronic disease management by embedding pharmacists within Aboriginal Health Services.

PSA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services Pharmacist Career Pathway provides training and support to help pharmacists working in these services to optimise health for their patients.

PSA will be developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2019. The RAP will underpin the work PSA does with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and support members and staff to provide culturally safe workplaces and services.

Media contact:  
Jarryd Luke
Senior Communications Officer
0487 922 176