PSA Code of Ethics underpins consumer confidence in pharmacists
17.10.2014 Pharmacists continue to rate highly with consumers and the latest customer satisfaction survey shows up 91 per cent of customers are happy with the service they receive from pharmacists.
The latest findings from Roy Morgan Research reinforce its survey earlier this year on the image of the professions which rated pharmacists second only to nurses in terms of ethics and honesty. Pharmacists received an 86 per cent rating against a 91 per cent rating for nurses.
In its customer satisfaction survey, Roy Morgan Research said: “In the year to August 2014, 50% of Australians 14+ (or 9,675,000 people) made at least one purchase from a chemist/pharmacy in an average four-week period. That’s a whole lot of customers – and for so many of them to be satisfied with the service they received speaks volumes for the high standards of this particular retail category.
“Pharmacies are heavily regulated by a range of codes and guidelines designed to ensure the customer’s wellbeing when buying pharmaceuticals. This no doubt contributes to the generally high customer satisfaction ratings across the main chemist chains, as well as the widely held perception of pharmacists as trustworthy and ethical.”
National President of the PSA, Grant Kardachi, said the high perception consumers had of pharmacists was reinforced by their operating to the PSA Code of Ethics.
“This Code is a very important body of work for the profession in that it articulates the values of the pharmacy profession and expected standards of behaviour of pharmacists to consumers and society,” Mr Kardachi said.
“The Code is made up of a number of principles covering five areas of focus which are core to pharmacists and pharmacy practice. These areas are the consumer, the community, the pharmacy profession, business practices and other health-care professionals.
“These principles apply to every pharmacist irrespective of their role, scope, level or location of practice. The application of ethics is not discretionary and I think the application of the code is being reflected in the latest Roy Morgan findings.”
Mr Kardachi urged pharmacists to display the code in their practices so that consumers could examine it.
“Transparency and pride in operating to the principles of the code can only further increase the stature of the profession as a whole and to individual practices that display the code,” Mr Kardachi said.
The code can be accessed at http://www.psa.org.au/membership/ethicsu
PSA welcomes reappointment of George Tambassis as National President of Pharmacy Guild
16.10.2014 The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has welcomed the announcement by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia that George Tambassis has been re-elected as the organisation’s National President for a further three-year term.
National President of the PSA, Grant Kardachi, said the re-election of Mr Tambassis came at an important time with the Guild, PSA and the pharmacy profession now in the preparation phase of the next Community Pharmacy Agreement.
“This is a critical time for the pharmacy profession as a whole and to have a person of George’s stature remain at the helm of the Guild gives stability and future direction to the profession,” Mr Kardachi said.
“This stability is also necessary to ensure that the collaborative approach to the agreement produces the best outcomes for the profession and the community that pharmacists serve.
“PSA is an integral part of that collaborative process and we have always found George’s leadership to be pivotal in guiding the discussions forward in a positive and achievable manner.
“In my professional and personal dealings with George I have been impressed by his great passion for community pharmacy as well as his ongoing pragmatism as to the challenges the profession is facing.
“He has a very realistic approach as to what we as a profession need to do to work towards securing a sustainable and viable future.”
Mr Kardachi said Mr Tambassis was always open to discussion, collaboration and a whole-of-profession approach.
“PSA’s initiatives and ideas sit well with George’s enthusiasm and together I am confident we will continue our collaborative and cohesive approach to putting the profession in a strong position as we move forward,” Mr Kardachi said.
PSA welcomes recommendations of Vic Govt committee inquiry into community pharmacy
14.10.2014 The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has welcomed the findings of a Victorian Government committee inquiry in community pharmacy which has formally recognised the role of the pharmacist in the community, while pointing to the potential for pharmacists to play a much greater role in improving health outcomes.
The report of the Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Legislation Committee Inquiry into Community Pharmacy in Victoria found aproportion of general practitioner visits were for ‘less complex’ conditions, some of which could potentially be treated within a community pharmacy.
In particular, the committee made recommendations for pharmacists to administer adult vaccinations, triage minor ailments and continue to expand their role within the allied health team to improve the health outcomes of Victorians.
Victorian President of the PSA, Michelle Lynch, said the committee’s findings and recommendations support PSA’s view that pharmacists are currently under-utilised.
“Pharmacists have a wealth of skills and knowledge that can be better used within the health system,” Ms Lynch said.
“The committee recognised this and has made 17 recommendations which all incorporate better uses of pharmacists’ expertise.
“The committee has recommended that the Victorian Department of Health establish a pharmacy immunisation trial targeting adults and ideally commencing in time for the 2015 influenza season.
“PSA already has conducted a very successful pilot in Queensland which saw more than 10,000 people immunised by pharmacists and we look forward to assisting in implementation of such a pilot in Victoria.”
The committee also recommended that the Department of Health work with the Commonwealth Government and healthcare providers to pilot a minor ailments scheme in rural Victoria for selected and suitably trained community pharmacists.
Ms Lynch said pharmacists had long been involved in treating minor ailments and the PSA welcomed the suggestion that a formalised scheme be trialled for rural areas.
“These are all very targeted recommendations by the committee and PSA in Victoria looks forward to working with the Government, health authorities, stakeholders and consumers to help implement these recommendations and ensure the best possible outcomes for all consumers.” Ms Lynch said.