The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) National President, Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS, opened PSA24 today. The three-day educational conference is being held at Sydney International Convention Centre August 2-4 and promises to embrace opportunities.
In her opening address Associate Professor Fei Sim remarked,
“Today 12 months later, I stand here, together with you PSA members, my Board, Branch Presidents, Branch Committees and the amazing PSA Team, and the 3 words I’ve chosen are optimistic, assured, and focused.
“On behalf of our profession, I am grateful to our government. I want to acknowledge and thank our Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler who will be joining us this afternoon, and Assistant Minister Emma McBride, who is present with us today.
“After 15 months of uncertainty, our profession welcomed the signing of the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement and Strategic Agreement. I want to acknowledge the work of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, their National President Prof Trent Twomey and his team, some of them are with us today. The 8CPA has delivered the much-needed certainty our community pharmacy sector needed.
“Also, on behalf of the profession, I am incredibly proud of PSA’s achievement and the signing of the first, historic, Strategic Agreement on Pharmacist Professional Practice is monumental.
“For the first time, the Strategic Agreement articulates the Australian Government’s commitment to support the highest standard of professionalism in pharmacy. Through this Agreement, for the very first time our profession as a whole, received formal recognition and support for our professional practice – recognising that we are an essential part of the healthcare team, and importantly the respect that pharmacists deserve as clinicians in this health care system.
“For the first time, there is shared vision between our profession and the Commonwealth Government to continue to expand the range of primary healthcare services pharmacists provide, regardless of areas of practice.
“The Strategic Agreement gives recognition to pharmacists’ expertise and contribution to quality use of medicines and medicine safety.
“It gives confidence to our patients, our funders and our health system. It gives our profession the framework for standards and guidelines moving forward, as we continue to navigate through practice and health landscape changes.
“Whilst these are all positive news, as I mentioned earlier, we need to remain focused. The work is not done. Whilst there is ongoing funding for HMRs and RMMRs, and that the Aged Care On-site Pharmacist Program has now formally commenced, the work and viability of our credentialed pharmacist workforce will not be forgotten.
“Regardless of areas of practice, I truly have never felt so positive about the opportunity for pharmacists to reach our full potential. These opportunities are driven by real needs of our patients and our health system.
The current Scope of Practice Review is our opportunity – it is what I would describe as a once-in-a-career lifetime opportunity to challenge the very foundation of health system administration – to achieve equity for all health professionals, including pharmacists, in terms of regulations, funding policy and workforce development. Whether it is through our submissions, in formally representing pharmacists on the Expert Advisory Committee, in attending workshops – members can be assured that PSA is making strong representation.” Associate Professor Fei said.
Associate Professor Fei went on to talk about what the PSA would like to see: removing of red tape; national harmonisation across states and territories; direct referral to pathology; consistent funding policies; workforce support; technology to be a facilitator; up-to-date regulation; and time for pharmacists to use their expertise to a full extent to provide patient care. Requesting the government implement all the recommendations of the review once it is finalised.
Associate Professor Fei concluded,
“PSA’s work will focus on building a pharmacy workforce which has the capability and capacity to meet the health needs of Australians into the future.
No matter what, PSA is pharmacy, and PSA is here throughout our pharmacy career, and we should never feel alone. We are here, we are all here to be your career partner to navigate the future together.”
