Consumer voices strengthen PSA’s roadmap to 2030

18 December 2024

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) today release the Pharmacists in 2030: Strengthening consumer voices report, an addendum to the Pharmacists in 2030 vision released in August 2024.

 

The report reveals the outcomes of fourteen patient focus groups held as part of the broader Pharmacists in 2030 consultation process.

 

Consumers reaffirmed high levels of trust with pharmacists, and expressed broad support for expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice, including prescribing and participating in multidisciplinary teams.

As part of the report, PSA also makes a series of commitments to ensure patients are better served by Australian pharmacists. PSA commits to:

• maintaining a consumer network to inform and partner in our work, including in PSA’s policy and advocacy, the development of practice guidelines and other practice support materials;
• utilising the lived experience of consumers to inform pharmacist education, including at PSA’s National Conference; and
• remunerating consumers for their involvement in projects and consultation.

 

These commitments further promote person-centred care as part of PSA’s role as leaders of professional pharmacy practice.

 

PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS said the Pharmacists in 2030 consumer consultation was a powerful testimony to how health sector policy can be strengthened with the views of patients.

 

“Patients and consumers are at the heart of everything we do as pharmacists, and should have a voice when policies are made for the system that is meant to serve them,” Associate Professor Sim said.

 

“Throughout our Pharmacists in 2030 project PSA listened to both pharmacists and consumer focus groups, and the result is a stronger vision for the future.

 

“In releasing these consumer insights PSA also makes a number of commitments to amplifying consumer voices in all that we do. Consumers will continue to be a key part of the work we undertake, from standards and guidelines, to education and policy work. Partnerships which have been ad hoc now become our business-as-usual.

 

“Working directly with consumers and consumer advocates means the communities we serve have a greater say on how pharmacist care is delivered, improving care for all Australians.”

 

The Pharmacists in 2030: Strengthening consumer voices report is available here.

 

Please note that the consumer testimonials in this report are provided solely for informational and illustrative purposes. Media may use these quotes only when attributing to PSA’s Pharmacists in 2030: Strengthening consumer voices report.

 

Media contact:   Georgia Clarke   M: 0480 099 798  E: georgia.clarke@psa.org.au

 

 

 

 

Vision for Pharmacists in 2030 launched at PSA24

2 August 2024

 

On the first day of its national conference PSA24, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has launched its flagship vision for the future of Australian pharmacy practice, Pharmacists in 2030, alongside Federal Health Minister the Hon. Mark Butler MP.

​

Pharmacists in 2030 is an evolution of PSA’s vision for the future of the pharmacy profession, and the steps that need to be taken to get there. Compared to its predecessor, Pharmacists in 2030 has an increased focus on equity, medicines stewardship and pharmacist wellbeing, while maintaining focus on medicine safety, expanding scope of practice and integration of pharmacists into collaborative care teams.

​

The vision is a culmination of deep consultation with pharmacists, consumers and other health stakeholders. Informed by consumers across 14 in-depth focus groups, Pharmacists in 2030 describes how the care pharmacists provide will change over the next 6 years’ through the lens of both pharmacists and patients.

​

Pharmacists in 2030 articulates six key actions to realise this vision:

• Medicine safety – empowering and supporting pharmacists to reduce risks and minimise harm by advancing medicine safety in practice

• Medicines stewardship – supporting pharmacists to actively lead and influence effective and judicious medicine use

• Access to care – providing all consumers greater access to care by increasing and leveraging the accessibility of pharmacists to address unmet health needs

• 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

• Workforce development – equipping and growing the pharmacist workforce to address existing and emerging health challenges

• Sustainability – driving practice changes that increase the sustainability of the pharmacist workforce, increase social contribution and limit environmental impact

 

These actions empower pharmacists to embrace their full potential to not only meet Australia’s surging health needs over the next six years, but also to build capacity to address health challenges beyond 2030.

​

PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS said that today’s launch built on the growing momentum behind the profession.

​

“In launching Pharmacists in 2030, we are progressing PSA’s vision for the future of pharmacy practice in Australia,” A/Prof Sim said.

​

“Our profession has evolved significantly, and continues to evolve, to meet the increasingly complex health needs of Australians, our aging population and overstretched health system. Our communities need us to continue down this path, they need all pharmacists doing more to support safe use of medicines and greater access to care when and where they need it.

​

“Pharmacists in 2030 leverages the appetite for change in our health system, driven by patient needs, and provides a roadmap for the next 6 years on how pharmacists’ full potential can be realised. It helps government, policymakers and funders understand our value and potential.

 

“Pharmacists in 2030 challenges the entire health ecosystem to collaboratively drive pharmacy practice to the next level, including policymakers, patients and consumers.

​

“We know that regulatory change alone is not enough. We need to address the cultural and system factors which hold our profession back and importantly, we cannot continue expecting pharmacists to do more with less.

​

“Our goal is getting to a point where practice is more efficient, relieving unnecessary administrative burden so that pharmacists can focus on delivering the care that patients need.

​

“Each one of us, in all areas of practice and specialisations have a role to play in realising this vision by 2030. The daily practice of pharmacists in direct patient-care roles will see the most evolution in their daily roles, enabled by pharmacists practising in non-patient facing roles, including academia, management and leadership.”

​

Associate Professor Sim also thanked all the pharmacists that participated in consultation on Pharmacists in 2030.

​

“Pharmacists in 2030 is for the future of every pharmacist,” she said.

​

“Whether responding to the official consultation, speaking to our teams around the country about the future, or contributing to our social media pages – the collective wisdom of our profession and health consumers has built the path forward for all pharmacists.

​

“I thank Minister Butler for officially launching Pharmacists in 2030 at PSA24, alongside the passionate pharmacists and consumers who shaped it,” Associate Professor Sim concluded.

 

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

​

Media contact:   Georgia Clarke   M: 0480 099 798  E: georgia.clarke@psa.org.au