TACKLING the impacts of climate change must be a key focus for Federal, State and Territory Governments, and the wider community, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) National President, Dr Chris Freeman, believes.
With bushfires continuing to burn across the country, Freeman told Pharmacy Daily that "there is clear evidence of the impact of climate change... [and] there is no doubt that there will be an increasing detrimental impact on population and individual health".
The PSA President added that continued climate change would fuel greater demand for pharmacists' services.
"It is incumbent on all of us, as individuals, communities, and on governments to meaningfully address the impact of climate change, and from the PSA's point of view, to minimise the impact that this has on human health," he said.
"The role of pharmacists will become increasingly more important as climate change continues to have an impact on the environment and there is an associated increase in the risk of natural disasters."
Meanwhile Consumers Health Forum of Australia CEO, Leanne Wells, has also advocated for action on climate change, to combat the health risks associated with environmental disasters.
"Quite apart from the acute care needed immediately for fire casualties, there are the fresh challenges which fire and smoke pose to services for people with chronic illness, mental health issues and the aged," she said.
"The huge and rising cost of health services should energise government and community to act on the evidence before us to improve our own health and that of our environment.
"The calamitous scale of the fires and the smoke that has carried hazardous particulate matter to communities hundreds of kilometres distant is a direct reminder, if any were needed, of the extensive reach of climate change harms."
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 22 Jan 20
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 22 Jan 20
