SHPA seeks more information on impact of 60-day dispensing

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) has called on Health Minister Mark Butler to further engage with all pharmacy stakeholders regarding the announcement of 60-day dispensing for 325 medicines. SHPA calls for safety and quality as guiding principles for medication supply, and iterates the need for a viable pharmacy sector that works together around every patient.

SHPA Chief Executive Kristin Michaels said hospital pharmacists support Australians to access medicines when and where they need them, so the impact of the changes on hospital pharmacy services needs to be understood.

“The hospital pharmacy sector accounts for around a quarter of annual Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) expenditure. In hospitals, medicines’ supply quantities are regularly determined by what is suitable for each patient as they leave hospital to support their quality of care, safety and adherence, particularly in rural and remote patients who face barriers to attending specialist outpatient clinics and take complex, high-cost medicines,” Michaels said.

“Sometimes it is less than 30 days, sometimes it is more than 30 days. A team-based approach where doctors and pharmacists work together is critical to ensure a focus on clinical need, safety and quality use of medicines.

“We will seek more information on the impacts of 60-day dispensing on the hospital sector, private hospital pharmacies and community pharmacies who provide medication supply and pharmacy services to private hospitals, as remuneration from PBS medicines supply is essential to pharmacy service delivery.

“We look forward to more detail on how the $1.6 billion in savings will be reinvested back into pharmacy services. This could represent an opportunity for both major arms of the pharmacy sector to further address the 250,000 medication-related hospital admissions in Australia each year, by leveraging and expanding many innovative services already in place in Australian hospital pharmacy departments through targeted federal government support.”

Michaels said a viable pharmacy sector across the care continuum is crucial to equitable medicines access.

“Australia’s community pharmacy network is an essential feature of our healthcare system to support medicines access and pharmacy services, and they must be supported to provide services that put patient care at the centre,” she said.

The announcement was a surprise to the Australian pharmacy sector, according to Michaels.

“The hospital pharmacy sector has had its fair share of surprises in recent years, with federal budget cuts to hospital pharmacy remuneration and PBS price disclosure policy changes — which have negatively impacted hospital pharmacy care delivery — introduced under the previous government.

“In this spirit, while we will always support safe and quality medicines access, we also require consultation and partnership with the federal government on fundamental changes to our healthcare system, so that the entire pharmacy sector is primed to deliver the essential medicines and pharmacy services to our patients as safely as possible.”

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