PSA supports Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement

The Australian government and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia have signed the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement, an announcement welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).

PSA National President Grant Kardachi said the agreement brings security to the community pharmacy sector after a period of uncertainty for the profession.

“The government and the pharmacy profession are united in a desire to ensure there is a sustainable and viable health system,” Kardachi said.
“This agreement reiterates there is a common interest in promoting the sustainability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) PBS, as well as the viability of an effective community pharmacy sector.”

The agreement recognizes community pharmacy as an integral part of the Australian health care system, enables Australia’s community pharmacies and their staffs to continue meeting the health care needs of their patients, and includes pharmacy remuneration for dispensing PBS and Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme subsidized medicines.

The agreement’s funding allocation makes up around 7 percent of the total agreement budget.

“PSA particularly welcomes the doubling in this agreement to $1.26 billion of funding for the provision of patient-focused professional services,” Kardachi said. “This $1.26 billion for pharmacist-delivered professional services is what the PSA has been long advocating for and represents the largest funding for this crucial area of health provision of any agreement to date.”