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PSA Media Releases forJune 2009

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	Peter Waterman articles by this author...
Keeping you up to date with PSA activities.

Information made available from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia by Peter Waterman.
Peter Waterman is the Public Affairs Manager for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.
He may be contacted by telephone (02)62834782, or on mobile phone 0419 260 827

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2 May 2009
PSA WELCOMES ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD RECOMMENDATIONS

The release by the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission of its report focussing on e-health and the introduction of a ‘person-controlled electronic health record’ has been welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

The report recommends that by 2012 every Australian should have a personal electronic health record which that person will own and have full control over.

The Acting President of the PSA, Dr Shane Jackson, said the NHHRC report addressed concerns expressed about the National E-Health Strategy which proposed a 10-year time frame for the adoption of electronic health initiatives.

“The PSA has long maintained that the 10-year proposal as outlined in the E-Health Strategy was unrealistic and did not meet the best interests of the Australian public,” Dr Jackson said.

“It is refreshing to see the NHHRC moving to speed up the process of introducing electronic health records which PSA believes are an important step in the improving the ongoing health-care needs of all Australians.

“PSA welcomes the accelerated timetable proposed by the NHHRC. PSA supports the widespread and comprehensive use of electronic health records for recording the supply of medications and also supports the recommendation that all healthcare providers have an obligation to 'transmit’ key data, such as dispensed medications. Whilst we support that all healthcare providers transmit key data, it must be acknowledged that government needs to fund the infrastructure changes that need to be made for this to occur.”

The proposal would improve pharmacists’ ability to assist in the continuity of care for patients especially when transitioning between the hospital and community and vice-versa.

“Also, by pharmacists having access to the relevant diagnostic and pathology information, it places us in a much better position to detect and resolve any medication-related problems. The access to this diagnostic and pathology information will also greatly facilitate any future prescribing role for pharmacists and the ability of pharmacists to increase their role in Australia’s health-care system,” Dr Jackson said.

Dr Jackson said the report did not appear to propose that it be compulsory for patients to maintain an electronic health record.

“PSA, however, supports the introduction of processes that foster greater participation in any such system. We would urge an approach that encouraged opting out of the system, rather than opting in.”

Dr Jackson said the Government also needs to develop a strategy to inform consumers and health professionals about the significant benefits and safeguards of the proposed NHHRC approach.

“Such an awareness-raising strategy is an important step in ensuring the acceptance and efficacy of the new records system, which will be an essential pre-requisite to its success,” Dr Jackson said.

Dr Jackson said PSA would respond to other issues raised in the NHHRC report in the near future.

 

7 May 2009
LAWS RELATING TO CONTRACEPTIVE SALES IN NT RAISE CONCERNS

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia today expressed concerns over laws in the Northern Territory requiring pharmacists to report sales of contraceptive items and possibly pregnancy tests to people under the age of 16.

Under the laws, which have been in place for some months but which the Government has only just ordered health workers to comply with, sexual activity among people under the age of 16 must be reported to a team that includes police and staff in the Northern Territory's Department of Health and Families.

The laws apply to any person under the age of 16 who is sexually active, regardless of the age of that person's sexual partner or if the activity is consensual.

Acting President of the PSA, Dr Shane Jackson, said the laws raised issues of public health and privacy.

“Our concern is that these laws could act as deterrent to young people seeking to act responsibly in relation to their sexual activities,” Dr Jackson said.

“The Government is clearly using underage sexual activity as a marker for sexual abuse and this is absolutely the wrong approach.

“There is little doubt the laws will have a negative social impact in that these people may not access appropriate measures for contraception and reduction of STDs for fear of being reported to the authorities.”

Dr Jackson said the Northern Territory had among the highest rate of sexually transmitted disease in Australia and any moves which might deter young people from using contraceptives were counter-productive.

“There is also the question of the laws forcing pharmacists and other health workers to break patient confidentiality or risk fines of up to $20,000,” Dr Jackson said.

“Patients put a very high value of the accessibility and confidentially of their visits to the pharmacist and these laws threaten to undermine one of the foundations on which this accessible and confidential health care is made available to all Australians.

“The PSA fully supports the Northern Territory’s commitment to reducing harm to children but feels this measure may in the long term create more problems than it seeks to address.

“The PSA has a wealth of expertise on hand and is more than happy to sit down with the NT Government to help amend the legislation to ensure it is workable and efficacious.”

 

12 May 2009
NATIONAL REGISTRATION AND ACCREDITATION PROPOSALS SUPPORTED

The announcement by the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council that it had agreed to a framework for a National Registration and Accreditation Scheme has been welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

PSA President Warwick Plunkett said while some issues needed further examination and clarification, the Society broadly welcomed the thrust of the Council’s announcement.

“PSA strongly supports the recommendation by the Council that for annual renewal of registration, applicants must show they have participated in a continuing professional development program as approved by their national board,” Mr Plunkett said.

“The PSA also strongly supports the recommendation that external accrediting bodies will continue their very important role and remain independent of government and that national boards will be required to register students.”

Mr Plunkett also said PSA approved the proposal for a uniform approach across all States to have all pharmacists undergo professional development for re-registration.

However, Mr Plunkett said the PSA is concerned by the proposal that the national board would determine where State or Territory boards will be appointed.

“The PSA believes that it is essential that a State and Territory entity remain in each State and Territory,” Mr Plunkett said.

“The possibility that this may not occur is an additional reason why we believe a practitioner from each State and Territory must be included in the national board,” Mr Plunkett said.

Mr Plunkett said a key area in the report requiring clarification is the process for the development of professional standards.

“The operation of the scheme must continue to allow the PSA to retain its role in developing, and setting and maintaining standards for the pharmacy profession – primarily through its competency standards, professional practice standards and code of professional conduct.

“This accords with the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) (Conditions of approval for approved pharmacists) Determination 2007 which states pharmacists must ‘comply with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Professional Practice Standards’,” Mr Plunkett said.

 

12 May 2009
FEDERAL BUDGET: PLUSES AND MINUSES

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia tonight welcomed the $22 million in funding for the National Prescribing Service announced in the Federal Budget.

The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Warwick Plunkett, said this funding will enhance quality use of medicines through improved prescribing and the PSA is keen to work with the NPS in this area.

Mr Plunkett said a number of the Budget moves are welcome, including the addition of two new medications on the PBS – Avastin and Sutent – and the continuation of funding for Herceptin, as well as other cancer initiatives.

“The Government has also provided funding for preventative health and health promotion activities,” he said.

“In addition, the Government has continued funding the National Return and Disposal of Unwanted Medicines program which is welcomed by the PSA.

“The PSA also welcomes the $1.5 billion in health infrastructure funding.”

But Mr Plunkett said the PSA is concerned the Budget is unfairly targeting the PBS to make additional savings by putting some medications in a new therapeutic group.

“This comes at a time when PBS reforms, calculated to save the Government more than $7 billion over seven years, are just starting to take effect,” Mr Plunkett said.

“It is premature of the Government to take this course of action before the reforms have been able to take hold and produce the expected results.”

Mr Plunkett said there needs to be clarification about some of the Budget’s announcements, including the workforce initiatives.

“The measures do not appear to include pharmacists who are the most accessible health-care professionals in Australia,” Mr Plunkett said.

 

13 May 2009
PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE FOCUS WELCOMED

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has welcomed the Federal Budget’s focus on preventative care and its moves to encourage multidisciplinary primary care teams.

Moreover, the PSA considers that these initiatives are consistent with the broader approach to preventative health care commendably demonstrated by the reviews commenced by the Rudd Government, including the Preventative Health Task Force, the Primary Health Care Strategy and the Health Reform Commission.

The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Warwick Plunkett, said these initiatives are a positive step forward in the provision of primary health services across the nation.

“However, it is disappointing that the Government doesn’t yet grasp the key role that pharmacists can play in the primary care team as the most accessible health professionals,” Mr Plunkett said.

“The measures to expand the PBS and MBS for nurses are welcome but are only the first step towards genuinely improving the health of the community.”

Mr Plunkett said the role of pharmacists must also be utilised in the Government’s Budget commitment to preventative health programs, including tobacco, obesity and alcohol.

“The PSA’s Pharmacy Self Care program has a clear focus on preventative health and consumer self-care which should be utilised in any program the Government undertakes in the area of preventative health,” Mr Plunkett said.

“The Budget is unclear on exactly how the Government plans to develop the preventative health program and the PSA would like to see details of the proposals.

“The reason for such clarity is that the PSA Pharmacy Self Care program is an established program on preventative health and we would welcome the opportunity to assist the Government in the implementation of their initiative so that time, effort and public funding is not wasted in duplicating programs.

“Pharmacies are already the focal point of many preventative health programs dealing with a range of issues which include tobacco and obesity. We urge the Government to use the PSA Pharmacy Self Care program as a starting point in developing its proposals,” Mr Plunkett said.

 

 

 

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