AMA submission to Aged Care on-site pharmacist measure consultation
AMA Provides a submission to the Aged Care on-site pharmacists consultation initiated by the Department of Health.
The consultation looks into introduction of on-site pharmacists in residential aged care homes.
In the submission to the consultation, the AMA supported the model where pharmacists are employed by the Primary Health Networks (PHNs), rather than aged care homes, ensuring their independence. The AMA also insisted that, regardless of the employment model, the Medicare items for regular medication reviews for residents of aged care homes must be maintained.
The AMA submission maintains that that GPs are the key medical care professionals in aged care, with pharmacists only providing support, but not replacing the role of GPs. The AMA called on the Department to provide assurances that pharmacists will be non-prescribing, noting that any move the direction of allowing pharmacists to prescribe would be strongly opposed by the AMA.
