18 January 2015
Media release
Pharmacy can help deliver better health outcomes and a
more sustainable Medicare
Any solutions to ensure the future sustainability of Medicare must fully utilise Australia’s 5,450 strong
community pharmacy network to deliver better and more cost-effective health outcomes.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia will use Minister Sussan Ley’s commitment to consultation on a more
sustainable Medicare to advocate vigorously for an array of enhanced pharmacy services that will make
the health system more affordable and more accessible for all Australians.
The Pharmacy Guild’s National President, George Tambassis, said that the objective of the Coalition
Government’s Medicare reform agenda should be to ensure the best health outcomes for patients,
delivered with maximum efficiency for taxpayers.
“Australia’s community pharmacy network is the nation’s most accessible health infrastructure, highly
trusted by the public and staffed by true health professionals.
“Around the world, governments, hospitals, health insurers and health professionals, including GPs, are
increasingly recognising that better utilising pharmacies takes pressure off the wider health system and
provides faster, better and cheaper access to treatments and advice for patients.
“Already in Australia, community pharmacies have proven their ability in areas such as enhanced
medication support, diabetes services, asthma management and blood pressure monitoring.
“The outstanding success of the recent flu vaccination pilot in Qld is the latest example of how
pharmacies can deliver high quality and more convenient and cost-effective services to patients.
“However, Australia is lagging many other countries in terms of making the most effective use of its
highly accessible physical pharmacy network and the skills of its pharmacist profession, working in close
collaboration with doctors and other health professionals.
“The Government’s Medicare reforms, combined with the upcoming new community pharmacy
agreement, aged care reforms, primary health networks and potential changes to the private health
insurance rebate provide the right climate to transform pharmacies into true health destinations.”
Mr Tambassis said the Pharmacy Guild would be pursuing a range of service enhancements that would
deliver better outcomes for patients and greater efficiency in the health system, including:
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Enhancing access to prescription repeats for stable, long term conditions
Extending the treatment of minor ailments to community pharmacies
Improving access to vaccinations
Post hospital and transitional care medicine reconciliation support
National Secretariat
Level 2, 15 National Circuit, Barton, ACT 2600 Australia
PO Box 7036, Canberra Business Centre, ACT 2610 Australia
Telephone: + 61 2 6270 1888 · Facsimile: + 61 2 6270 1800
Email: guild.nat@guild.org.au · Internet: www.guild.org.au
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Basic health checks, screening and preventative health services
Mental health support
“The Guild’s focus will be on those service areas where there are gaps in the health system and issues of
ready access for patients, including in regional, rural and remote areas where these problems are usually
more pronounced,” said Mr Tambassis.
“In most cases, opportunities to deliver these services more cost-effectively, including through the better
use of technologies, have not been taken up, leading to increased costs for governments and patients –
costs that can be reduced significantly by better utilising pharmacies and pharmacists.
“Pharmacy and pharmacists have the proven capability and stand ready to deliver this common sense
approach, taking the pressure off doctors, hospital emergency departments and the wider health system,”
Mr Tambassis said.
See attached examples of what pharmacies can do to deliver better and more cost effective health
outcomes. For more information, go to http://www.guild.org.au/issues-resources/healthyfuture
Media inquiries: David Quilty – Executive Director – 0400 683 368
National Secretariat
Level 2, 15 National Circuit, Barton, ACT 2600 Australia
PO Box 7036, Canberra Business Centre, ACT 2610 Australia
Telephone: + 61 2 6270 1888 · Facsimile: + 61 2 6270 1800
Email: guild.nat@guild.org.au · Internet: www.guild.org.au
Examples where pharmacies can deliver better and more cost-effective health outcomes for
patients and taxpayers, including in regional, rural and remote Australia
Enhancing access to repeat prescriptions for stable, long term conditions
At least four million GP visits a year involve issuing a prescription for a medicine a patient is already
taking. As part of a collaborative arrangement with the GP and patient, pharmacists could provide
repeat prescriptions for an agreed period of time to people with stable long term conditions, such as
diabetes and high blood pressure, and work with the GP to help patients manage these conditions.
This arrangement would improve patient access to health care, reduce costs to patients and lead to a
more effective use of GP’s time and expertise.
Extending the treatment of minor ailments to community pharmacies
Some 26 million GP consultations a year are for minor ailments. Pharmacists could dispense
medicines for the treatment of a range of easily diagnosable minor ailments such as simple urinary
tract infections, middle ear infections and minor skin irritations from a special formulary in
consultation with the GP, without the need for the patient to visit the doctor for a prescription. This
would provide more convenient and cheaper access to treatment for patients and enable GPs to
focus their skills on patients with more serious health conditions.
Improving access to vaccinations
With the appropriate training, community pharmacists could administer flu and other vaccinations.
This could be facilitated through the National Immunisation Program for at-risk patient groups and
provided privately for the wider population. This would provide cheaper and easier access for many
patients and reduce the MBS related costs of providing these services. It would also ensure that the
pharmacy network is able to respond quickly in the event of a pandemic.
Post hospital and transitional care medicine reconciliation support
There are 230,000 medicine related hospital admissions annually at a cost of $1.2 billion. While it is a
well-known fact that patients are most at risk of medicine misadventure immediately after they leave
hospital, there is no systematic approach to medicines reconciliation in Australia in either the public
or the private hospital systems. Addressing this serious health gap would help reduce unnecessary
hospital re-admissions and other health costs, including managing medicine addiction.
Basic health checks, screening and preventative health services
The mortality rate of cardiovascular disease could be reduced by two-thirds by addressing lifestyle
issues while smoking remains the nation’s highest preventable health cost. As the most accessible
health destination, pharmacies can undertake basic health checks and risk assessments as well as
provide lifestyle counselling and support, and referrals. Additionally, pharmacies can provide access
to initial screening for a range of diseases such as bowel cancer. This increased role in preventative
health and early intervention will help identify at-risk patients earlier and, with the necessary followup, have the potential to reduce the prevalence of expensive, chronic health conditions.
Mental health support
One-in-five adult Australians report suffering from a mental illness in the last 12 months with the
overall cost of mental health estimated to be $28.6 billion a year. Community pharmacies are well
placed to participate in the early intervention, support, referral and continuity of care of people with
mental illness. With appropriate qualifications and training, pharmacists can provide the tools and
connections to other services like Lifeline and Beyond Blue. They can also work with patients to
increase medicine compliance, coordinate treatment and reduce diversion rates.
National Secretariat
Level 2, 15 National Circuit, Barton, ACT 2600 Australia
PO Box 7036, Canberra Business Centre, ACT 2610 Australia
Telephone: + 61 2 6270 1888 · Facsimile: + 61 2 6270 1800
Email: guild.nat@guild.org.au · Internet: www.guild.org.au