Pharmacy Daily | Unique needs of remote Aus overlooked

THE Remote and Isolated Pharmacist Association Australia (RIPAA) is calling for greater recognition of the unique challenges facing pharmacists in remote communities in its pre-Budget submission.

These include the higher cost of delivering services and the difficulties of attracting pharmacists to the workforce.

While broadly welcoming measures proposed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) to improve rural pharmacy supports in its latest pre-Budget submission (PD 07 Feb), RIPAA says more needs to be done to get the policies and funding right so that communities with the highest needs can implement full scope services.

RIPAA questioned whether a flat loading of 11.5% on rural services for pharmacies across MM2-7 is appropriate or adequate to address the specific challenges faced by rural and remote areas.

"How is it equitable for pharmacies in Cairns and Hobart to be receiving the same incentives on services as those in the more remote parts of Australia such as Longreach in Outback Qld or Strahan in Western Tasmania?" said a spokesperson for RIPAA.

"The workforce costs alone in these locations are much higher and smaller communities lack the economies of scale that larger centres can benefit from.

"A flat loading will inadvertently support and strengthen the hubs while the disadvantaged areas and thin markets continue to flail."

RIPAA also questioned the relevance to real rural areas of models of care that involve inserting pharmacists into GP practices and ACCHOs.

"Parachuting pharmacists into GP practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) makes remote rural community pharmacy less viable and is a slap in the face to their commitment to their communities," the RIPAA spokesperson said.

"It is not an appropriate model for small towns with one pharmacy and one medical practice where collaboration, not competition, between providers is essential."

RIPAA has called for improved capacity in community pharmacies to implement full scope of practice and provide care across settings - much like rural GP practices, which can also service hospitals and aged care facilities.

RIPAA said it has submitted its own proposal to "achieve better outcomes for thin markets and disadvantaged areas that is cost effective and focused on the role that pharmacists can play to strengthen primary health care in areas of greatest need". KB