Helen O’Byrne, Senior Vice President of the Tasmanian Branch, said the Guild was pleased to see the Liberals backing in their $5 million commitment with confirmation that all conditions under the Queensland model will be available for patients to access through qualified Tasmanian pharmacists.
“Community pharmacy is the most accessible frontline health service, providing primary healthcare at a time and place that suits patients”, Ms O’Byrne said.
“Tasmanian patients deserve access to the full range of services available in other jurisdictions, and this is exactly what a commitment to adopting the full Queensland model, and ensuring these conditions are made permanent practice, does.”
In Queensland and the Northern Territory, patients can access treatment for more than 20 everyday and long-term health conditions at their local community pharmacy.
These conditions represent the highest volume of preventable hospital presentations and highest volume of PBS prescribing.
Ms O’Byrne noted that local pharmacists will need to undertake additional clinical training before treating these conditions, which will be subsidised through the funding commitment, and that the model was expected to increase access to care for thousands of patients every year.
The Tasmanian Liberals’ commitment to grants to support extended opening hours was also welcomed by the Tasmanian Branch of the Guild.
“We support anything that makes it easier for patients to get more care, when they need it, closer to where they live, from their local community pharmacists”, said Ms O’Byrne.
“Patients in the community don’t always need care in convenient business hours, so support for key primary health providers to open for longer and deliver more access can only be positive.”
The expanded services are expected to become available next year, as community pharmacists complete the required training.
