PHARMACY Guild executive director David Quilty says community pharmacies are "increasingly concerned about the slow rollout of the $50 million Pharmacy Trial Program (PTP)".
Writing in the Guild's fortnightly Forefront update yesterday, Quilty said pharmacies are worried about being able to access the $600 million allocated in the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement for new and expanded pharmacy programs from 01 Jul 2017.
"There is an urgent need to expedite the PTP," he added, urging the government to remove any impediments holding back the implementation of the first three trials unveiled by Health Minister Sussan Ley (PD 18 Mar).
They include medication management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, continuity of medicine management after hospital discharge, and the diabetes screening trial which saw some progress this week with pharmacies invited to participate.
Quilty also highlighted the need for cost-effectiveness reviews of existing programs before they can be expanded to access the $600m.
These reviews are yet to be completed, meaning there is a real risk that existing programs shown to be cost-effective will not be able to expanded from 01 Jul 2017 - such as dose administration aids and staged supply.
Quilty said further trials could include a new medicine service and an asthma management service which has already been trialled under the Fourth Agreement.
He added the current Health Care Homes trials "do not sufficiently recognise the vital role of the patient's community pharmacy", with the Guild to "continue advocating until these important issues are satisfactorily addressed'.
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