April 12, 2015
Unprecedented partnership between PSA & industry to transform community pharmacy

Eight companies with a strong commitment to the future of pharmacy, along with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), have announced a significant partnership to help transform pharmacies into healthcare destinations.

The partners involved are Pfizer Australia, Bayer, Reckitt Benckiser (RB), Johnson & Johnson, Blackmores, Willach Australia, NAB Health and Danone Nutricia.

Building on the successful first stage of PSA’s Health Destination Pharmacy (HDP) initiative, the implementation stage of HDP will be launched later this year.
HDP enables pharmacists to shift their practice to provide a stronger focus on consumer self-care, with improved pharmacist–consumer engagement and provision of a range of evidence-based minor ailment and professional pharmacy services.

National President of the PSA, Grant Kardachi, said following the successful HDP pilot, the move into the implementation stage of the project was significant for the profession.
 He said the HDP initiative provided a tailored, evidence-based practice change platform for pharmacy to assist in delivering a sustainable, reinvigorated model of healthcare to the Australian community.

“This flexible model of pharmacy practice positions the pharmacist as a primary healthcare provider and the pharmacy as a healthcare destination” Mr Kardachi said.

Mr Kardachi noted the strong support by the PSA Board for this initiative.

“This is a game changer for the profession and gives consumers a unique pharmacy and healthcare experience. We will be working with each partner to ensure the implementation phase of the project proceeds as quickly as possible” he said.

“Along with the significant expertise of the partners, the PSA has formed a team of the most experienced and knowledgeable experts in pharmacist and pharmacy change in the country, if not the world.

Professor Charlie Benrimoj from UTS, Bruce Annabel from JR Pharmacy Services and Glenn Guilfoyle from The Next Level are part of the team, along with PSA CEO Dr Lance Emerson and Executive Director of Policy Dr Alison Roberts.

“The team also includes our network of coaches in the states and territories to help roll this initiative out” Mr Kardachi said.

“The partnership will see the PSA working with industry leaders who are passionate about pharmacies as primary sources of health advice and service in the community. We share a vision that this approach could help ensure sustainability for the industry.

“The HDP model has shown to be scalable and effective at repositioning pharmacies as health destinations. ThePSA is delighted to be working with these partners who believe that we can build a brighter future for pharmacy, and give consumers better options for managing their health”.

9 April 2015
PSA members urged to act over Community Pharmacy Agreement

The Board of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has issued a call to action to its 18,000 members to ensure the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement (6CPA) provides the best possible outcomes for consumers and the profession.

In an unprecedented move reflecting the Society’s concern about ensuring a positive outcome for consumers, government and pharmacy in the 6CPA, the PSA Board has urged its members to seek meetings with their local Members of Parliament and Senators to voice their concern.

The PSA Board has reminded its members the Government needs to bring certainty to patients’ access to medicines and pharmacists professional services across Australia, and also to address issues raised in the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) report.
It says a robust and publically accountable 6CPA is essential.

The PSA has been working with the Pharmacy Guild to develop options for the 6CPA, including the need for appropriate dispensing remuneration for pharmacies plus a significant increase to develop/deliver professional services and programs.
The Board has suggested that among the issues its members may wish to discuss with their politicians are:

• A reasonable 6CPA is required to ensure consumer needs are met through a viable community pharmacy network, with pharmacists delivering high-quality services and continued access by Australians to essential medications.
• There have been substantial savings generated through the last CPA, and at least $1.4 billion is required in Part B of the next agreement (the section dealing with professional services and programs), as well as a stable dispensing remuneration base to ensure continued QUM for patients.
• The recent ANAO report raised a number of issues that should be addressed in the 6CPA. The PSA has offered to assist Government address many of these issues, to ensure delivery of better outcomes for patients, for example:

o    A more effective evaluation framework and a stronger approach to the collection of meaningful patient outcomes – to ensure public accountability in the 6CPA

o    Assistance to pharmacists in actually implementing services – to ensure patients at the grass roots actually receive quality services

o    Consideration of pharmacists’ role in achieving cost effectiveness and efficiencies in the broader health system – for example through improved GP/pharmacists collaboration, pharmacy minor ailment services and progressing patient eHealth solutions.