It is already known that the Pharmacy UTI Pilot will benefit the community. But, did you know that pharmacies will also receive incentives when they render this Pilot service?
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia's Victoria Branch has hailed the news that a newly-elected Andrews Labor government will invest $19 million in a Pilot program for pharmacists to treat simple urinary tract infections, which will start on July 1st, 2023. Along with this, pharmacies will receive an additional $20 as payment for each patient consultation. The thing is, patients will not be the ones who will have to shoulder this amount. Instead, they will only have to pay for their medicines and the Victorian Government will assume the $20. Just imagine how much that $20 per patient can help improve the pharmacy, right?
Included in the Pilot program are the reissuance of contraception prescriptions, treatment of minor or common skin conditions, and administration of travel vaccinations and public health vaccinations by skilled, trained, and qualified pharmacists.
According to Anthony Tassone, the Victorian Pharmacy Guild Branch President, this Pilot program and its scope will surely improve the medical outcomes for patients, reduce hospital administration, and increase the accessibility of care, especially for women.
In Queensland, this Pharmacy UTI Pilot program is now permanent after finding out that patients are satisfied with the services of local community pharmacists and patients do not have to undergo a complete waiting time to see their general practitioners in cases of minor health complications.
Rural Pharmacy Forum Opening on March 2023
In the upcoming Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference (APP) on March 23, 2023, the Rural Pharmacy Forum will be officially opened by Honorable Emma McBride MP, the Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health. This conference is the largest pharmacy forum where more than 6,000 pharmacy owners and pharmacy workers attend to upskill their workforce and develop their profession.
According to Hon. Emma McBride, pharmacists are some of the most trusted healthcare practitioners in Australia and this forum provides an opportunity to explore the crucial role pharmacists play in providing healthcare to those living in rural and remote communities. According to Trent Twomey, the Guild’s National President, this forum will be the highlight of the APP.
The theme in the 2023 APP is Rural Pharmacy - Innovation and Access and those who will attend this conference will learn from the first-hand knowledge and experiences of rural community pharmacists about how they make sure their workforce is adapting to provide cutting-edge services for their patients and their communities now and into the future.
To know more about the information on the APP2023 conference, click here.
Who are the 2023 Pharmacy of the Year Finalists?
The Guild has announced the finalists in the 2023 Pharmacy of the Year. Members of the Pharmacy Guild are eligible to compete for the outstanding award in one of three categories including Excellence in Business Management, Excellence in Community Engagement, and Excellence in Professional Innovation. For the finalists, take a look at the information below:
Capital Chemist Calwell, ACT
Livelife Pharmacy Cooroy, Queensland
Thursday Island Pharmacy, Queensland
Wholelife Pharmacy & Healthfoods Pease Street, Queensland
Ouyen Pharmacy, Victoria
Pharmacy 777 Shoalwater, Western Australia
The category winners and the Guild Pharmacy of the Year winner will be revealed at the 2023 APP Conference, which will take place from March 23–26, 2023, at the Gold Coast Convention Centre. Moreover, the goal of the national awards process is to identify the best community pharmacy in Australia, one that is recognised for its accomplishments, its innovation, and its dedication to patients and communities.
According to Nick Panayiaris, Senior National Vice President of the Guild, as the COVID environment varied, pharmacies adjusted to match the various patient requests and expectations. Additionally, pharmacy workers have surely provided comprehensive, holistic health treatments, drug safety guidance, and other services under the most trying circumstances possible to suit the needs of their patients and the community.
If you want to work as a community pharmacist and provide accessible care to patients, Raven’s Recruitment can help you out. At Raven’s Recruitment, we can help you find the best part-time and full-time pharmacy jobs not just in the community pharmacy profession but in hospitals and other areas as well.
Since 1987, Raven's Recruitment has been specialising in Pharmacist recruitment, so we have expert knowledge in the space. If you are looking for an exciting opportunity to work as a locum pharmacist or want a permanent job, then look no further - get in touch with our Recruitment Consultants today.
