The PSA has supported the launch of the inaugural Parliamentary Friends of Safe and Quality Use of Medicines event, using the opportunity to call for a stronger national focus on helping Australians use medicines safely, effectively and appropriately.
The event was held at Parliament House in Canberra on the evening of Tuesday 18 August, with the Parliamentary Friendship Group, co-chaired by Mr Steve Georganas MP and Mr Cameron Caldwell MP.
It provided a non-partisan forum for political and industry stakeholders to discuss the crucial role pharmacists play in ensuring the safe and quality use of medicines, including the fact that Quality Use of Medicines and Medicines Safety is Australia’s 10th National Health Priority Area.
The PSA National President, Professor Mark Naunton MPS, opened the event by addressing delegates, highlighting that the safe and quality use of medicines remains one of Australia’s most significant health challenges and opportunities.
‘Pharmacists are accessible, highly trained medicines experts. We see the real-world impact of medicines, help prevent medication-related harm, and ensure our patients and communities get the best from their medication regimens,’ he said.
Prof Naunton also discussed newly released data on pharmacist-led interventions for avoiding preventable hospital admissions.
‘Medicine-related harm contributes to around 650,000 hospital and emergency department visits every year, costing the health system an estimated $2.1 billion annually. Importantly, around half of these medicine-related hospital visits are considered avoidable,’ he said.
‘Research shows that pharmacist-led post-discharge interventions can generate net savings of around $5,000 per patient, while broader pharmacist-led services such as Home Medicines Reviews could reduce the burden of preventable medicine-related harm by an estimated $140 million to $315 million every year.
‘It’s important to continue to focus on the critical role pharmacists can play in our health system and in promoting safer and quality use of medicines. I hope the establishment of this Parliamentary Friendship Group will do just that.’
