THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) and have joined forces to call on major parties to fund general practice-based pharmacists to work with specialist GPs to support high-quality prescribing and quality use of medicines.
The measure could deliver around $545 million in net savings to the health system over four years through fewer hospital admissions and reduced medicine use.
Non-dispensing pharmacists in general practice answer queries, monitor prescribing, conduct medicine reviews, help patients understand their medicines, and ensure safe and effective use of medicines.
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim said practice-based pharmacists would improve patients' access to high-quality care.
"Australia is facing an avalanche of chronic health conditions, requiring more significant, advanced, and complex care from all healthcare professionals," she said.
"We must support our healthcare system to meet this demand by investing in multidisciplinary care now, supporting GPs to grow their teams and foster greater pharmacist-GP collaboration to achieve true patient-centred care," A/Prof Sim said.
She pointed out that the funding would directly benefit the health system, reduce costs for patients, "and most importantly, improve prescribing safety and quality care".
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said boosting funding to add pharmacists and other health professionals to join general practice teams would deliver immediate and long-term benefits.
"People with chronic illness get the best care when their specialist GP works with pharmacists and other health professionals in multidisciplinary care teams," Dr Wright stated.
"Pharmacists, GPs and non-GP specialists, nurses, and other allied health professionals like dietitians and psychologists all apply different skills to benefit our patients.
"Most practices provide multidisciplinary care, and most GPs want to grow their teams to better serve our patients."
Dr Wright said adding pharmacists to practice teams will improve patient education and safety, particularly for older patients, who too often are admitted to hospital due to adverse drug events, and identify opportunities to deprescribe when the medicine is no longer necessary.
Trials of general practice-based pharmacists have reported excellent feedback from both patients and GPs.
"For patients, funding will mean faster and easier access to care from an allied health professional who's working closely with their specialist GP," Dr Wright said. KB
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