Pharmacists delivering record COVID-19 vaccinations

13 July 2022

 

Australian pharmacists are delivering following surging demand for COVID-19 vaccinations, with figures released by the Department of Health today show that pharmacists have delivered more than 52,000 COVID-19 vaccinations in the last day and over 7.7 million since the start of the rollout.

 

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) National President Dr Fei Sim says these vaccination numbers highlight the accessibility of community pharmacists, as well as the trust the public has in Australian pharmacists.

 

“I thank our community pharmacists who have stepped up and been on the front line of the COVID-19 vaccination effort for the last twelve months,” she said.

 

“These vaccination figures show just how critical community pharmacists are in providing timely, accessible healthcare. Nearly 50 per cent of yesterday’s COVID-19 vaccinations were delivered by a pharmacist, in a community pharmacy.

 

“This is on top of administering record numbers of influenza vaccinations, increase in oral antivirals and supporting their own staff being furloughed with COVID or influenza.

 

“Pharmacists around Australia have stepped up when it mattered most, and now that state and territory governments all but closed their vaccination hubs – it is on primary care, led by pharmacists and GPs to do the heavy lifting.

 

“It’s clear that Australians trust the expertise of pharmacists, now it’s time that pharmacists are adequately remunerated for the critical role they play.”

 

Dr Sim also said that growing reliance on community pharmacists indicated a shift in how Australians access primary care, with many heading to their local pharmacy more regularly.

 

“Pharmacists are seeing more patients coming through the doors with minor ailments, and in particular respiratory symptoms. Our pharmacists are doing a fantastic job at supporting patients, including referral to a GP or hospital where appropriate.

 

“PSA is committed to ensuring that pharmacists are remunerated fairly for their time and expertise, so that they can provide the best care to our communities.”

 

 

Media contact: Georgia Clarke 0487 922 176

UTI Pharmacy Pilot requires health sector co-operation, not turf wars

8 July 2022

 

Today Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Queensland President Shane MacDonald has welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement that the Urinary Tract Infection Pharmacy Pilot – Queensland (UTIPP-Q) has been extended permanently.

 

Mr MacDonald said that Queensland pharmacists are dedicated to ensuring the best outcomes for patients, and reiterated PSA’s support for the pilot and its extension.

 

“Pharmacists are following a strict protocol based on antimicrobial stewardship and best practice guidelines,” he said. “They cannot supply treatment unless the guidelines are closely followed.”

 

“Anything outside of the protocol is referred to another physician, which is in most cases a GP.

 

“The Queensland University of Technology’s final report on the pilot found that pharmacists have the appropriate skills, competencies, and training to manage the empiric treatment of uncomplicated UTIs in the community pharmacy.”

 

PSA strongly rejects comments made today by the Australian Medical Association (AMA).

 

“Pharmacists are registered health professionals with the same ethical and moral obligations as doctors.

 

“We have a health system that is approaching breaking point. The health profession needs to work together to support patients as their health needs become more complex. This includes reducing duplication and empowering patients with self-care.

 

“Measures like pharmacist vaccination and the treatment of uncomplicated UTI help free up precious doctor’s time for complex chronic disease management and more complex presentations.

 

“PSA has worked with Queensland Health to ensure appropriate clinical governance measures in the trial to support safe and effective patient care. The outcomes described in the evaluation report show these worked and serve as a model for broader rollout in the future.”

 

 

Media contact: Georgia Clarke 0487 922 176

 

 

Federal Health Minister to open PSA22

7 June 2022

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is excited to confirm that Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Mark Butler MP, will officially open PSA22 later this month.

 

PSA22 is Australia’s leading education conference for pharmacists and will be hosted by PSA from the 29^th to 31^st of July 2022 at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney.

 

PSA National President Dr Fei Sim thanked the Minister for giving Australia’s pharmacists the opportunity to learn more about the Albanese Government’s health priorities.

 

“Pharmacists played a significant role in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, having delivered more than 7.5 million doses over the last twelve months.

 

“This will be a great opportunity to hear directly from the Minister about the incoming government’s agenda, and how we can continue to support the health and well-being of Australians.

 

“We are very excited to have the Minister joining us at PSA22, where hundreds of pharmacists from different backgrounds and clinical settings will come together to discuss the latest in pharmacy.

 

 

PSA22 will also feature a keynote address from former Australian Olympian turned Doctor, Jana Pittman, and MasterChef favourite, pharmacist Depinder Chhibber MPS will host this year’s Breakfast Mixer: 11 secret ingredients to the evolving role of pharmacists.

 

“Dr Pittman has a very inspiring story to tell of triumph, defeat, failure and success throughout her Olympic journey, and on her path to becoming a healthcare professional. She has demonstrated remarkable passion and resilience throughout her career. I know many PSA members were excited to follow Ms Chibber’s MasterChef journey, and to see a pharmacist in the public spotlight on national TV. I am thrilled to have both of these phenomenal women join us for PSA22.

 

“Of course, PSA22 is also an important platform for PSA’s policy and advocacy work. We will be launching PSA’s fifth medicine safety report, Medicine Safety: Disability Care, at this conference, as well as PSA’s Guidelines for pharmacists supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with medicine management.

 

“I would like to recognise our hardworking staff and members who have put their time and energy into these invaluable pieces of work, and I look forward to continuing profession-wide discussions on how pharmacists can better meet the needs of people living with disabilities, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

 

“This is an opportunity not to be missed. Get your tickets to PSA22 today and join us in Sydney later this month.”

Register for PSA22 here: www.psa22.com.au

 

 

Media contact: Georgia Clarke 0487 922 176

Health profession must work together and put patients first

7 July 2022

 

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the Queensland Government’s announcement that the Urinary Tract Infection Pharmacy Pilot – Queensland (UTIPP-Q) will be extended.

 

PSA National President Dr Fei Sim says that pharmacists have proven their expertise and professionalism during the Queensland pilot.  

 

“PSA is proud to continue working with the Queensland Government to extend the pilot. This pilot allowed thousands of Queensland women to get timely access to treatments for uncomplicated UTIs from their local pharmacist.

 

“The Queensland University of Technology’s final report on the pilot found that pharmacists have the appropriate skills, competencies, and training to manage the empiric treatment of uncomplicated UTIs in the community pharmacy,” she said.

 

“PSA has worked with Queensland Health to ensure appropriate clinical governance measures in the trial to support safe and effective patient care. The outcomes described in the evaluation report show these worked and serve as a model for broader rollout in the future.

 

PSA strongly rejects comments made today by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

 

“Pharmacists are registered health professionals with the same ethical and moral obligations as doctors,” Dr Sim said.

 

“Community pharmacies are not ‘unsupervised retail settings’ – they are primary healthcare destinations, as well as the most accessible healthcare setting in Australia.

 

“Pharmacists undergo a minimum of five-years’ training, as well as additional education and training for this very trial, so that they can provide the best possible care to their patients.

 

“Measures like pharmacist vaccination and the UTI pilot help free up precious doctor’s time for complex chronic disease management and more complex presentations.

 

“We have a health system that is approaching breaking point. The health profession needs to work together to support patients as their health needs become more complex. This includes reducing duplication and empowering patients with self-care.

 

“Working together means putting aside turf wars and finding better ways to support patients. PSA will not apologise for our commitment to timely access to care. We remain committed to working collaboratively with the entire health sector to deliver best outcomes for patients.”

 

 

Media contact: Georgia Clarke 0487 922 176

Access to antivirals key to tackling next COVID-19 wave

5 July 2022

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) National President Dr Fei Sim is calling on governments to do more to protect the community and prepare for an increasing number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations by improving access to antiviral medicines.

 

Dr Sim says that governments – at both state/territory and federal levels – must take a pragmatic approach to ensure high-risk patients have timely access to antivirals, to avoid the shortages and last-minute policy-making that Australia saw with the rollouts of COVID-19 vaccines and Rapid Antigen Tests.

 

“We cannot sit and wait for infections and hospitalisations to rise further – governments must act now. Timely access to antivirals is critical to reduce the severity of COVID-19 infection and limiting complications.

 

“Governments must develop a process to triage high-risk patients, refer them to a prescriber, and ensure rapid supply. What is clear is that early access to antivirals leads to far better patient outcomes.

 

Dr Sim says that community pharmacists in Scotland have been able to supply antivirals like molnupiravir to high-risk COVID-19 patients since January 2022.

 

“Scotland’s utilisation of the pharmacist workforce to provide timely access to antivirals has had very positive impact on the health of patients who are at risk of hospitalisation or death due to COVID-19.

 

“It is incumbent upon the Federal Government to raise awareness with the general public of the importance of seeking antiviral treatment early.”

 

PSA is also calling on the Federal Government to restore funding for pharmacies to provide the COVID-19 Home Medicine Service in response to increasing infections.

 

“With rising petrol prices and supply costs, pharmacies cannot afford to continue providing these services for free. Restoring this funding would allow pharmacies to deliver antivirals to COVID-19 positive patients safely and quickly.

 

“I would like to remind all Australians to wear a mask when visiting their local pharmacy. It’s crucial that we continue to protect our frontline healthcare workers and vulnerable patients at this time.

 

“For many Australians, pharmacies are the first stop when they are feeling ill. It’s also where immunocompromised and high-risk patients need to go to collect their essential medicines. Please help protect your community by wearing a mask when you visit a pharmacy.”

 

Dr Sim has also called for frontline health workers, including pharmacists, to be eligible to receive a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

“As some of the first to be vaccinated, health workers are more exposed than many to waning protection over time. Expanding the booster program to include pharmacists and other healthcare workers is the next necessary step.

 

“PSA is ready to work with the Federal government and all state and territory governments to ensure the safety of our communities, as well as our pharmacists.”

 

 

 

Media contact: Georgia Clarke 0487 922 176

 

PSA welcomes fast-tracked UTas Pharmacy program

1 July 2022

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the University of Tasmania’s announcement of a three-year Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours program set to begin in 2023.

 

The new program will deliver the same volume of learning as four-year programs and is the first of its kind in Australia. PSA Tasmania President David Peachey says the new program will accelerate more young pharmacists into the profession.

 

“Pharmacists have struggled with workforce capacity since the beginning of the pandemic, and as the role of pharmacists evolves, the profession needs to expand,” he said.

 

“This new program will give pharmacy students the opportunity to accelerate their learning and get into pharmacy sooner.

 

Mr Peachey said that while this program will be attractive to some students, greater focus needs to be put on attracting students to the profession.

 

“We need to encourage more students to take up pharmacy degrees by making a career as a pharmacist more attractive.

 

“PSA has been working with governments to improve conditions and remuneration for pharmacists that better reflects their standing in the healthcare system as well as their expertise, training, and skills.

 

“Being a pharmacist is a very rewarding career and PSA will continue advocating for a career that attracts the best and brightest young minds.

 

“PSA looks forward to working with the University of Tasmania and the School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology as their program begins.”

 

 

Media contact: Georgia Clarke 0487 922 176

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is the professional organisation of Australian pharmacists. PSA is the only government-recognised peak national body for pharmacists, representing all of the pharmacy profession in Australia.

 

WA free flu vaccination extension welcomed by pharmacists

30 June 2022

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the extension of the free flu vaccination program in Western Australia until the end of July.

 

Incoming PSA WA State President Lusi Sheehan says the move will encourage more West Australians to get their flu shot.

 

“We know that cost is a significant barrier to many people getting a regular flu shot. Being able to deliver another month of vaccinations at no cost to the public makes a big difference,” she said.

 

“We need to make it easier for all Australians to be protected against influenza every year. We thank the WA State Government for supporting Pharmacy and removing cost barriers previously faced by many Western Australians.

 

“PSA has been calling for West Australians to have greater access to vaccinations by allowing pharmacist-immunisers to administer a wider range of vaccines.

 

“Community pharmacists have the clinical experience to deliver all vaccinations, including influenza vaccinations, and often have shorter waiting times than GPs.

 

“We must continue to make vaccinations more accessible for all Australians and ensure that governments support pharmacists to improve the ongoing health of their communities.

 

“I encourage every West Australian to get their no-cost flu shot at their local pharmacist as soon as they can.”

 

All WA residents aged 5 years and older can access an influenza vaccination at no-cost from their local community pharmacy until 31 July 2022.

 

 

 

Media contact: Georgia Clarke 0487 922 176

“Naloxone program will save lives” – Pharmacists welcome rollout

30 June 2022

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the national rollout of the Take Home Naloxone (THN) program, which allows pharmacists to provide free naloxone from 1 July.

 

Naloxone rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose or adverse reaction and can be administered by injection or via a nasal spray.

 

Under the national program naloxone will be available across Australia for free and without a prescription, to anyone who may experience, or witness, an opioid overdose or adverse reaction.

 

PSA National President Dr Fei Sim says that pharmacists will be key to a successful rollout because of their accessibility and expertise.

 

“Naloxone saves lives,” she said. “During the pilot three lives were saved each day, but with wider access we expect to see an even greater impact.

 

“As our most accessible healthcare professionals, community pharmacists will play a critical role in ensuring that every Australian can access this life saving medicine.

 

“One dose of naloxone previously cost around $40, but from 1 July anyone can walk into their local pharmacy and receive two free doses of naloxone, as well as expert advice from pharmacists about how to administer it.

 

“The naloxone trial showed us that we can reduce the harm caused by excessive opioid use by making medicines like naloxone more accessible and removing cost barriers.

 

“Anyone taking opioids for pain management, or caring for someone who does, should collect naloxone from their local pharmacist. We can also provide advice about identifying an opioid overdose.

 

“Over recent years we have seen more cases of illicit party drugs being spiked with acetyl-fentanyl which can cause opioid overdoses even in small amounts.

 

“We are urging young people who use recreational drugs like cocaine to visit their local pharmacy and carry naloxone on a night out. Your pharmacist is there to provide judgement-free, expert advice, on when and how to use this life-saving drug.

 

“It could save your life, or the life of a friend.”

 

Take home naloxone will also be available through non-pharmacy sites such as alcohol and drug treatment centres and needle and syringe programs in New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia from 1 July 2022, and in Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, and the ACT from 1 November 2022.

 

Media contact: Georgia Clarke 0487 922 176

Pharmacy Student of the Year finalists announced

28 June 2022

 

 

The state and territory finalists for the 2022 Viatris Pharmacy Student of the Year (PSOTY) award have been selected, with the national final scheduled to take place at PSA’s national conference PSA22 in July.

 

During the national final, students will be tested with a real-life clinical situation, where a patient will present with signs and symptoms or a specific product request. Students are then required to use their clinical knowledge and communication skills to identify the most appropriate course of treatment, tailoring their response to provide the most appropriate advice.

 

A judging panel assesses all state finalists before selecting the national winner.

 

PSA National President-elect Dr Fei Sim said that the PSOTY awards encourage students to draw on their clinical knowledge and emotional intelligence to demonstrate their skills.

 

“The PSOTY awards are an opportunity for pharmacy students to practice and develop their skills in the kinds of real-world situations you would experience as a practising pharmacist.  

 

“I congratulate all the students who’ve participated in the competition this year for their hard work

 

“It’s exciting to see such talented students entering our profession and dedicating their lives to the health and wellbeing of their communities,” Dr Sim said.

 

State finalists include:

ACT: Eden Brennen (University of Canberra)
NSW: Chloe Woodward (University of Newcastle)
QLD: Rheanna Norris (University of Queensland)
SA/NT: Irene Stergos (Charles Darwin University)
TAS: Haylee Shaw (University of Tasmania)
VIC: Hannah Barakat (La Trobe University)
WA: Melissa Cato (University of Western Australia)

 

 

They will also be joined by Renee Buckland from James Cook University, Queensland, who was the Wildcard winner at the NAPSA Congress.

 

PSA extends thanks to the PSOTY award sponsor, Viatris, for their ongoing support and wishes all state finalists the best of luck at the national final.

 

 

Media contact: Georgia Clarke 0487 922 176