Recognising the role of pharmacists as health professionals
The role of pharmacists as health professionals is one that is sometimes overlooked by consumers who therefore may not take full advantage of the extensive range of services offered by the pharmacist.
Chair of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PSA) Early Career Pharmacist group, Justin Lee, said that all too often consumers pick up their medications without being aware of the additional professional services offered by pharmacists.
“Pharmacists are integral members of the health-care team and their expertise and experience is invaluable for consumers,” Mr Lee said.
“With the growing emphasis on primary and preventive health, consumers should be more aware that pharmacists play a pivotal role in helping to achieve the best possible health outcomes for all Australians through advice, counselling and professional services – as well as dispensing medications.
“Services to be found in your pharmacy include smoking cessation and weight management programs, medication reviews, clinical interventions, methadone programs, asthma management advice and services, and diabetes services – to name but a few.
“In addition to the value of the professional services offered is the fact that pharmacists are the most accessible of any health professionals in Australia.
“You usually don’t have to have an appointment and can walk in and receive the best possible health advice available from a highly trained health professional.”
National president of the PSA, Warwick Plunkett, said the PSA’s Future of Pharmacy Project had recently released an Issues Paper on The Future of Pharmacy in Australia which invited input from pharmacists and other stakeholders to help plan the future direction of the profession.
“The question of raising the profile of pharmacists as health professionals is one area that we would welcome comment and suggestions on as part of the process that has been initiated by the Issues Paper,” Mr Plunkett said.
“The Issues Paper relies on the profession and those associated with it to make their views known and the perception of pharmacists and their role as health professionals is a good example of the input we are canvassing.”
In September, a Self Care campaign for rheumatoid arthritis by PSA received the Australian Journal of Pharmacy Award for the Best Health Promotion of the Year.
Self Care’s Health campaigns are designed to educate and raise pharmacy staff and public awareness of particular health conditions.
Acting national president of the PSA, Grant Kardachi, said the campaigns provided member pharmacies with a range of targeted resources to raise community awareness of rheumatoid arthritis.
“These resources can include training storyboards, health information, desk pads, posters, brochures and promotional displays to support evidence-based information on arthritis,” Mr Kardachi said.
“This material is most effectively used as a display within a pharmacy, highlighting the Fact Cards associated with the campaign and other Self Care resources.
“To have the rheumatoid arthritis campaign recognised as the leading campaign of the year is testament to the work that goes into developing the campaigns and the commitment of Self Care member pharmacies to using the materials effectively.”
The campaign was commissioned by Arthritis Australia with funding support from the Australian Government, Department of Health and Ageing, through the Better Arthritis and Osteoporosis Care initiative and was co-badged with the Australian Rheumatology Association.
