Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) welcomes the Albanese Labor Government’s $573.3 million funding package to provide women with more choice, lower costs and better health care.

Announced on 9 February, the new package of measures incorporates key recommendations from AdPha, shaped by the expertise and insights of its members.

AdPha President Tom Simpson praised the government for listening to patients and health care stakeholders, including the valuable contributions of AdPha Women’s and Newborn Health Specialty Practice members, to take action on expanding care and access in women’s health.

“AdPha members welcome these long-awaited measures, which will help remove barriers that have prevented women from accessing affordable health care for too long,” Mr Simpson said.

“We have strongly advocated for a comprehensive approach to managing perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms – focusing on awareness, education, and access to affordable, evidence-based treatments.

“We are pleased to see many of our recommendations, put forward during the Senate Inquiry and through our submission, reflected in this new package of measures,” he said.

“A/Prof McGuire from our Women’s and Newborn Health Committee specifically mentioned in her evidence that it had been over 20 years since any new medicines for menopause had been listed on the PBS, and these new listings will ensure that menopause hormonal therapies remain both affordable and accessible,” Mr Simpson said.

“Currently, over 85% of women experiencing bothersome symptoms of menopause or perimenopause are not receiving evidence-based care, despite the availability of both hormonal and non-hormonal therapies. With treatment options declining in recent years, we hope these reforms will reverse that trend.

“It is also great to see new contraceptives listed on the PBS for the first time in over 30 years, reflecting and subsidising contemporary treatment options that are used by many Australian women,” he said.

“We thank the government for prioritising women’s health and recognising the invaluable role of pharmacists in advocating for and supporting women’s health care needs.

“As this expands to including the provision of contraceptives and anti-microbials for uncomplicated UTIs at PBS co-payment prices for concession card holders by pharmacists – in direct support of our first recommendation of our Federal Budget submission – we look forward to enhanced multidisciplinary collaboration between doctors and pharmacists as we achieve patient-centred care,” Mr Simpson said.

“As medicines experts across all stages of reproductive health – from pregnancy, labour, and lactation to menopause and beyond – pharmacists are well-positioned to support women through these changes. With these new measures, we can play an even greater role in ensuring women receive safe, appropriate, and efficient care.”

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AdPha President Tom Simpson says the foundational document, developed incollaboration with the New Zealand Hospital Pharmacy Association (NZHPA), is the first major step in formally recognising the integral role pharmacy technicians play in supporting patient care.

‘Pharmacy technicians working across all areas of practice are highly skilled and essential members of pharmacy and multidisciplinary teams.

‘Their duties can vary from preparing and dispensing mediations, compounding medications, clinical ward-based roles taking medication histories from patients, inventory management, record keeping, ensuring regulatory compliance and ultimately supporting pharmacists to improve efficiencies for the delivery of safer patient care.

‘This is why they are our “partners in patient care” and we’re proud to announce this latest investment in the profession, following the addition of an elected Technician Member to the AdPha Board of Directors as part of our Transformation 2024 agenda.

‘This vital area of the pharmacy workforce plays a critical role in supporting patient safety and should, like all pharmacy professionals, have competency standards that reflect their area of practice.

‘As our profession continues to evolve, so too does the role of pharmacy technicians and we are proud to make this first leap into ensuring technicians are recognised and supported to practice consistently, appropriately and safely.’

Mr Simpson says as part of celebrations marking the incredible work the more than 40,000 pharmacy technicians and assistants across the country do every day, AdPha will also be offering 50 per cent off annual Technician Membership fees until 31 October 2024.

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SHPA President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) says the agreement acknowledges an intrinsic link between pharmacy recognition and professional wellbeing.

“Recognition of our unique skills and the care we can provide is important as pharmacists, and plays a key role in our satisfaction and wellbeing as health professionals.

“Through ANZCAP, we are proud to support the incredible work Curtis, Kay and the team at PSS do to support pharmacists across all practice settings through the stressors and challenges of delivering care every day.”

PSS President Curtis Ruhnau thanked SHPA and ANZCAP for the ongoing partnership.

“SHPA and PSS are like-minded organisations, equally committed to fostering a workforce that feels valued.

“Where we enhance the workforce through focus on professional wellbeing, SHPA fosters career pathways and promotes recognition through programs including the new College.

“It’s fundamentally about pharmacists understanding and supporting their fellow pharmacists.

“It has never been more important to have widespread organisational support for our frontline workers – who are facing increasing demands to meet the evolving needs of Australians in need – and I thank Tom and his team for years of partnership, and look forward to many more.”

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Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) National President Dr Shane Jackson presented the award to Mr Holloway during the event at the Henry Jones Art Hotel on the Hobart waterfront.

Statewide Hospital Pharmacy Executive Director Tom Simpson was named Pharmacist of the Year, while Emma Shepperd from Triabunna, north of Hobart,  won the Early Career Pharmacist Award.

The event was a collaboration between PSA, the Pharmacy Guild, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) and the University of Tasmania Pharmacy Department.

Dr Jackson, congratulating Mr Holloway, says his dedication to pharmacy had helped raise the standards of the profession and pharmacy organisations.

“Graeme was a fantastic mentor, not only to his own staff but to the hospital pharmacy interns he trained in his own time,” Dr Jackson said. “He was also recognised earlier this year when he was awarded PSA Life Fellow status at the PSA18 national conference in Sydney.”

Mr Holloway was responsible for redrafting the Tasmanian Pharmacy Act.

SHPA National President Professor Michael Dooley, presenting the Pharmacist of the Year Award to Mr Simpson, said: “Tom has applied his broad skillset, creativity and patient focus in a variety of roles, including establishing Tasmania’s digital medical record system.

“In pharmacy he has shown passionate commitment to improving medication safety across Tasmania’s health system, including establishing rural pharmacy services to ensure patients in rural hospitals receive the same level of pharmacy care they would in acute hospitals.”

Guild National President George Tambassis presented Ms Shepperd with her Early Career Pharmacist Award.

“Emma has successfully developed professional services, health promotions and community programs in the small town of Triabunna on the east coast, attracting national news coverage,” Mr Tambassis said. “She is the embodiment of a caring community pharmacist making a difference.”

Pharmacist Greg Kay won the Guild Distinguished Service Award and Harvey Cuthill received PSA Life Membership.

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