Victorian Parliamentary vision for community pharmacy
14 Oct, 2014
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The Pharmacy Guild of Australia welcomes and supports the report of the Victorian Parliamentary
Committee inquiry into the role and opportunities for community pharmacy.
The Parliamentary Legal and Social Issues Legislation Committee report, tabled today, makes 17
recommendations, including:
a trial of pharmacist immunisation for adults, ideally commencing in time for the 2015 influenza
season
a pilot of a minor ailments scheme delivered by community pharmacies in rural areas of Victoria
support for a pilot of an evidence-based chronic disease screening and management program in
community pharmacies
an expansion of the existing Continued Dispensing initiative by pharmacists
funding for medicines reviews when patients leave hospital
more support and remuneration for pharmacies preparing and delivering dose administration aids
strengthened relationships and pathways between community pharmacies and GPs
more support for pharmacies providing standardised evidence-based opioid dependence treatment.
The National President of the Guild, George Tambassis, said the report was a timely reinforcement of the
scope for community pharmacies to play a bigger role in our national health system.
“I congratulate this committee for having the foresight to advocate an expansion of pharmacy services to add
value to our health system. In particular, the determination to get a pharmacist vaccination trial up and
underway by early next year is the right decision for the health of Victorians,” Mr Tambassis said.
“All over the world, comparable countries to Australia are making better and fuller use of pharmacists’
expertise and the accessibility of pharmacies, and it is time for Australia to do the same,” he said.
Mr Tambassis thanked the Victorian Branch of the Guild and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia for
their input into this important Parliamentary inquiry.
Media inquiries: Greg Turnbull: 0412 910 261
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