SA Health Minister backs pharmacists

SOUTH Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade (pictured), believes the case to empower pharmacists to work to their full scope is going to get stronger.

Wade was asked if he supported the use of pharmacy-based health checks as a “first step to encourage more people to visit their GP”, by Labor Party MP, Tung Ngo, at a sitting of the South Australian Legislative Council last month.

“Pharmacists are an important part of the network of health professionals operating in our community,” Wade said.

“I think the range of opportunities to use pharmacists to support health care going forward will become more and more strong.

“One of the issues that SA Health is finding is in relation to post-discharge management of medication. “There is no doubt that pharmacists can provide a very valuable service in helping facilitate the successful discharge of patients, and helping them to review their medication post discharge.

“Often, prescriptions given in hospital need to be, shall we say, linked to pre-existing medications, and community-based pharmacists provide a very valuable service. “In terms of the honourable member’s question in relation to health checks, I completely agree that quality health checks by welltrained pharmacists will provide a valuable service within the network of South Australian health services,” Wade said, according to the official Hansard record.

Wade also noted the success of pharmacist vaccination services in boosting uptake in the state.