THE Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) says the Federal Government's new Productivity Commission report (PD yesterday) "disregards the pivotal and multidimensional roles played by pharmacists in clinical settings".
SHPA ceo Kristin Michaels said a suggestion in the report that Australia move to automated 'machine dispensing' supervised by 'less trained and qualified' individuals in the retail pharmacy sector "would be a simplistic approach that shows a lack of understanding of the complexity of patients' medicine needs.
"Patients need support when receiving medication, and this recommendation devalues the unique expertise pharmacists provide in protecting the community by ensuring optimal quality use of medicines," she said.
Any savings made through reducing access to health professionals would lead to reduced care and increased costs in cases of medicine-related hardship.
However SHPA welcomed the report's call to increase the role of pharmacists in clinical care.
"We agree pharmacists should play a remunerated collaborative role with other primary health professionals," Michaels added, with SHPA also in favour of calls to extend telehealth services to reduce patient travel.
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