Page 13 - Submission to the 2015-16 Federal Budget

Solutions for a stronger, more sustainable primary care system
“Structural changes [are required] to improve seamlessness of care to ensure that a person with chronic illnesses has access to all the professional skills needed.” 97
Together with a focus on healthy ageing, the Government identified a focus on early intervention in primary care as one of its key policy objectives,98 with a commitment made to: “Strongly support improved coordination of care between doctors, practice nurses and allied health professionals.”99
The Government has much to gain from investing
in initiatives that improve coordination and management of chronic conditions. There is growing evidence that this results in improved utilisation of resources, including medicines and ancillary health services, leading to improved health outcomes.100
Pharmacists are ideally placed to support their fellow health professionals and improve the quality of care for patients (see Box 4).
Yet structurally, the health system is effectively working against these goals. Currently almost all funding for pharmacist‐delivered services comes not from within the MBS where the other programs sit, but from the PBS as part of the Community
Pharmacy Agreements. This leaves the pharmacy programs largely isolated from other programs administered by different sections within the Department of Health.
Without collaborative and integrated arrangements, a large number of Australians with chronic diseases are missing out, and an opportunity to improve their health is being lost.
Emerging evidence suggests that ensuring the sustainability of the health system will be more about reducing wasteful spending than imposing cuts on critical elements of primary care – including pharmacists.101 There is room in the system to make these smarter investments if the right structural changes are made.102
There is great potential to positively impact
the health outcomes and quality of lives of all Australians, while reducing costs. Pharmacists are critical to the Government’s efforts to achieve sustainable, efficient and quality healthcare.
‘THERE IS GREAT POTENTIAL TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE HEALTH OUTCOMES
AND QUALITY
OF LIVES OF ALL AUSTRALIANS, WHILE REDUCING COSTS.’
Integratingpharmacistsintoprimarycareteams I©PharmaceuticalSocietyofAustraliaLtd. 13