PROFESSIONAL Pharmacists Australia (PPA) has askedthe Minister for Health Sussan Ley to end the medicine reviews cap which was set up by the government and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia more than two years ago.
Although the cap was designed to risk-manage service providers who were potentially misusing the system, the union group said it believes that the "implementation of more robust accountability and compliance measures would deliver a better access for patients and the improved health outcomes that they deliver".
The letter reminds the minister that "medicine-related reactions account for over a third of unplanned hospital admissions in older people.
"Taking the wrong medicines together, taking too high, or too low a dose, can lead to ineffective disease management, toxic reactions, and, in the worst case, preventable deaths."
PPA added that it believes that these programs are capable of delivering very positive results, not only improving patients' health but also reducing hospital admissions and delivering savings to the health budget, with more than one third of unplanned hospital admissions in older people resulting from medicine-related reactions.
"Properly designed medication management services which are supported by strong evidence and accountability measures can make a valuable contribution to Australia's health and wellbeing," PPA added.
CLICK HERE to read the PPA letter.
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