New Vic Health Minister

JENNY Mikakos

(pictured) has been appointed Victoria’s new state Health Minister, following the landslide

Labor Party win last weekend.

She replaces former Minister for Health Jill Hennessy who assumes her new role as Attorney-General.

The Victorian Branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, congratulated and welcomed Mikakos into her new position which also includes the portfolio of Minister for Ambulance Services.

The Guild also extended thanks to Hennessy for her support of community pharmacy particularly the authorisation of pharmacist immunisation, the investment behind the $29.5 million ‘Save 000 for emergencies’ public awareness campaign promoting community pharmacy in primary care and the launch of the SafeScript real-time prescription monitoring system.

Victorian Guild President Anthony Tassone said, “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Jill Hennessy and her team especially in the last few months to launch the SafeScript real time prescription system...we look forward to continuing our positive relationship with Minister Mikakos”.

Tassone identified key Guild local issues as resourcing for treatment and support for drug addiction, vaccination scope expansion for pharmacists, electronic National Residential Medication Charts and upholding ownership laws.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) also extended its welcome to Mikakos as well as supporting the return of Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley, urging Ministers to consider improving access to healthcare in Victoria by taking advantage of the flexible and highly trained pharmacist workforce.

PSA Victorian President Benjamin Marchant said, “We congratulate Minister Mikakos on her appointment and look forward to working with her to adopt innovative models of care that make better use of pharmacists’ skills and expertise”.