THE Remote and Isolated Pharmacist Association of Australia (RIPAA) is calling for a strong commitment to boost and upskill the pharmacy workforce across all MM5 to MM7 areas in order to address health inequities in rural and remote communities.
Its proposal reflects a broader vision to prioritise rural and remote communities in health policy, placing them first rather than last.
Pharmacists in isolated communities have long served as crucial healthcare providers, often stepping in where access to doctors is limited, the peak body pointed out.
RIPAA's proposal focuses on strengthening the existing rural pharmacy workforce by providing targeted support, training and resources to enable pharmacies to deliver a broader range of clinical services, and aims to expand scope of practice, including pharmacist prescribing.
"Pharmacists in rural and remote communities play an indispensable role, often acting as the primary healthcare providers for their regions, yet the support they receive does not match the unique challenges they face every day," said RIPAA President Fredrik Hellqvist from Dover, Tasmania.
"Many patients in these areas struggle to get timely GP appointments, which can delay access to critical healthcare.
"By focusing on boosting and upskilling the rural pharmacy workforce, we can unlock greater access to essential healthcare services for some of Australia's most disadvantaged populations.
"This isn't just about pharmacy - it's about health equity and ensuring rural Australians aren't left behind," he concluded.
Charles Darwin University (CDU) is attempting to address some of the barriers that may prevent pharmacists working in rural and remote areas, through online delivery of advanced education and rural placements.
"Australia is facing a widespread shortage of pharmacists in regional and remote areas, with most pharmacists concentrated along the east coast," said CDU's Discipline Lead in Pharmacy, Associate Professor Heather Volk.
The issue is particularly pressing in the Northern Territory, with hospital pharmacist shortages pushing pharmacy services to breaking point (PD 28 Aug).
Assoc Prof Volk pointed out that the NT shortages are driven by a complex mix of national and local issues, including remuneration that does not reflect the depth of training or level of responsibility, and high travel costs for interstate pharmacists considering remote or regional placements.
"Evidence shows that training health professionals from rural or remote areas, and offering them practical placements in those settings, significantly increases the chance they'll stay and work in those communities post-graduation," Assoc Prof Volk said.
"CDU's Doctor of Pharmacy program is designed to address these barriers, offering online delivery and rural placements so students can train in their communities," she said, adding that earlier this year, CDU became the first Australian university to graduate Doctors of Pharmacy, "helping to build a locally trained, future-ready workforce". KB
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