PSA warns of rural danger

AUSTRALIA’S rural pharmacies are under severe threat, according to Pharmaceutical Society of Australia National President, Dr Chris Freeman.

A PSA submission to a consultation being undertaken by the National Rural Health Commissioner argues that rural pharmacy should be considered as a distinct entity, “and its specific challenges and required support structures are not adequately addressed within the discussion paper”.

PSA has urgently called on the Commissioner to develop a separate consultation on ‘Rural Pharmacy Quality, Access and Distribution’, saying the current document “is not fit for purpose for rural pharmacy”.

“Unless we prioritise the supports that are available to our rural practitioners we will potentially lose our rural community pharmacies, our rural pharmacists and a level of service delivery that will only further increase the gap between the outcomes for rural patients and their urban counterparts.”

Freeman said PSA held great fears about the sustainability of pharmacy services in rural communities.

“Now is the time for action,” he urged, with PSA also recommending a focus on rural pharmacy workforce needs and trials of innovative rural-based care models - psa.org.au.