Both the Pharmacy Guild Of Australia, Queensland Branch and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) , Queensland have thanked retiring Premier, the Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch President Chris Owen, thanks the outgoing Premier of Queensland, the Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk for her leadership and commitment for advancing healthcare policies following her announcement yesterday to retire from her position.
Mr Owen said since her appointment in 2015 becoming the state’s 39th Premier, Ms Palaszczuk took on a number of policy reforms and supported a number of monumental healthcare changes.
“I’d like to thank outgoing Premier Palaszczuk for supporting community pharmacists during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic while community pharmacies continued to dispense millions of medicines and vaccinate millions of Queenslanders.
“Year after year, the Palaszczuk Government continued to enlist the services of Queensland community pharmacies to deliver initiatives like the free influenza vaccination program; Queensland was the first, but importantly the catalyst, for other states and territories to follow.
“I’d also like to thank Premier Palaszczuk for her commitment in making treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) a permanent healthcare service for women in Queensland in October 2022 as well as announcing the implementation of the North Queensland Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot.
“Under the Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot, patients in North Queensland will benefit from timely access to safe treatment and healthcare services for everyday health conditions from early 2024.
“Premier Palaszczuk demonstrated great foresight and a true commitment to delivering better health services and most recently, supporting the expansion of the Pilot statewide as announced in September by the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services the Hon Shannon Fentiman.
“On behalf of Guild members across Queensland, we look forward to working with the newly appointed Premier and continuing to work towards a modernised public health system in the best interests of patients.
“We are committed to working with the Queensland Government on a number of important matters including pathways for career progression for pharmacists, pharmacy business ownership rules, and rolling out the implementation for more community pharmacists across the state to practise to their full scope, to ease the burden on GPs and overstretched hospital emergency departments,” says Mr Owen.
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Qld President Shane Macdonald MPS says
“Premier Palaszczuk has supported pharmacists and the health care system through some of our most difficult challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. During a period of immense pressure, the outgoing Premier led with conviction and steadfast commitment to her state.
“Under Premier Palaszczuk’s leadership the potential of our profession has been unlocked, with pharmacists able to contribute more to the health of our communities. PSA is proud to have supported the Palaszczuk Government’s pharmacist scope of practice pilots, leading the country in the accessible and timely treatment of urinary tract infections, contraception, and other common conditions.
“Under Palaszczuk’s leadership, Queensland’s pharmacists can administer more vaccines to more patients, improving immunisation coverage across our state.
“​It is important to acknowledge that Premier Palaszczuk’s Government was the first in Australia to pilot pharmacist administration of vaccinations in 2014. This proactive approach meant that an entire workforce could be mobilised and administer vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On behalf of pharmacists across Queensland, I thank Premier Palaszczuk for her leadership, and wish her the best for what comes next.
I look forward to continuing to work constructively with the Government and the next Premier, on behalf of pharmacists, to support the health of all Queenslanders” Mr Macdonald says
