Pharmacy Daily | Guild, PSA codeine collaboration

THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the Pharmacy Guild will jointly produce a range of training materials to support pharmacists around the up-scheduling of codeine medicines on 01 Feb 2018 and beyond, with the support of a new funding package approved by Health Minister Greg Hunt (PD breaking news Saturday).

The initiative will cover education, information and communications for community pharmacies, staff & patients nationally, including CPD accredited online modules and videos using subject-matter experts.

Hunt said the up-scheduling of codeine would be a significant change impacting consumers.

The communication challenges required a "concerted effort by all stakeholders, with a clear need for focus on timely and consistent messages," he said.

Five training modules will cover protocols and procedures for pharmacists and pharmacy staff, while communication activities are proposed to support pharmacies transition from codeine to a broader 'pain management' approach, to enable them to inform and support their patients.

It is estimated that one million consumers will be impacted by the change, with a proportion of patients also likely to have broader issues requiring individual support and possible referral to GPs or pain management specialists.

Guild president George Tambassis said it was vitally important that community pharmacies had the resources to communicate directly with patients, while PSA president Shane Jackson also welcomed the government's contribution.

Both organisations said they looked forward to working closely with the health department and the Nationally Coordinated Codeine Implementation Working Group on the development of clinical protocols, standards and guidelines as well as education and support materials "to ensure a smooth and consistent approach to the up-scheduling of codeine containing medicines by 01 Feb 2018".