PSA Reconfirms Commitment To Government's Health Reforms, Australia

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 20 Nov 2009 - 3:00 PST

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has welcomed comments by the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, emphasising the role pharmacy can play in the Government's health-care reform agenda.

Ms Roxon said at the Pharmacy Guild dinner in Canberra this week that pharmacy was in a unique position that was not lost on the Government. She highlighted the role pharmacy can play in primary care and preventive care that are the foundations of much of the Government's reform agenda.

President of the PSA Warwick Plunkett said the recognition of pharmacy's unique position and its ability to play a crucial role in a reformed health-care system was encouraging.

"Ms Roxon's focus on preventive health is an area in which the PSA is well placed to provide valuable assistance and indeed, through Pharmacy Self Care, is already providing many of services fundamental to an efficient and sustainable preventive care infrastructure," Mr Plunkett said.

"In her address, Ms Roxon also pointed to the need for more and better health information for consumers and a more consistent standard of service delivery.

"Again, these are areas in which PSA has already established ground-breaking protocols and systems which can be fully utilised by the Government.

"There is no need for the Government to enter into a costly exercise of establishing infrastructure and services which already exist under Pharmacy Self Care.

"Rather the Government should be looking to build on what PSA and Pharmacy Self Care have painstakingly developed and refined over the past 22 years to be a model that is internationally held in the highest regard."

Mr Plunkett said PSA had in the past stated its commitment to work with the Government to help ensure better health outcomes for all Australians through the provision of a sustainable health-care system.

"This is what the Government wants to achieve through its reform agenda and I reconfirm our readiness, and that of our members, to help deliver on some of these important and exciting initiatives."

Source
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia