FUNDING for emergency healthcare measures including pharmacy's Home Medicines Service (HMS) will continue for another six months, Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, announced this morning.
Hunt revealed that the Federal Government will invest more than $2 billion to ensure the continuation of services including medicines delivery, telehealth consultations and GP-led respiratory clinics, until 31 Mar 2021.
In a Twitter post Hunt said "by providing telehealth and home delivery medicine services we are reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the community, while also supporting people in isolation to get the care they need".
The move has been welcomed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, with a spokesperson telling Pharmacy Daily, "it's fit for the times", noting close to one million deliveries were made under the scheme by 31 Jul.
"It's good that it's been extended, because it's needed," the spokesperson said.
"It's support for getting medicines where they're needed, but we do make the point that we shouldn't misunderstand that face-to-face contact with health professionals, including doctors and pharmacists is still the preferred norm."
The Guild spokesperson also noted that a lot of pharmacies have been providing home delivery services for some time and "may or may not have engaged in the scheme".
While funding has been allocated to continue to support free home medicines delivery services for eligible patients, which had been due to expire at the end of Sep, the Federal Government has yet to extend continued dispensing measures to ensure access to Pharamceutical Benefits Scheme funded medications in emergency situations.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 18 Sep 20
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