07 May 2010 Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement
The Federal Government and The Pharmacy Guild of Australia finalised the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement earlier this week (see www.racgp.org.au/ff/24). The new agreement comes into effect from 1 July 2010. Even though the full funding details are yet to be revealed, the college is concerned about some components of this agreement.
The agreement contains a commitment by the guild and the Federal Government to work together with state and territory governments to establish processes that will allow pharmacists to supply a single standard pack of continuous therapy medicine to patients under specific circumstances in the absence of a current prescription. Implementation of this measure will require amendment to legislation relating to the supply of medicines across all state and territory jurisdictions. The first stage of Medication Continuance will begin with two therapeutic categories: the Oral Hormonal Contraceptives and Lipid Modifying Agents.
The college is concerned that this decision may well decrease the opportunity to conduct important health checks that are usually completed at the same time as a GP visit and believes real support is needed to promote the relationship between the patient and GP.
There is also a new program to be delivered through pharmacies to patients with type 2 diabetes who are newly diagnosed or whose diabetes is less than ideally controlled.
While details on these programs are not yet available, one thing is certain: GPs build patient relationships one visit at a time, and every visit with a GP is an opportunity to reassess the patient’s condition and talk about preventive health. Challenging consultations like sexual health screening and chlamydia testing for under 25s benefit from this relationship, as does the management of patients with newly diagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes.
The RACGP is also disappointed that, under the new agreement, the funding for Medication Management Review Facilitators based in Divisions of General Practice across Australia will end from 1 July 2010. These facilitators provide important support to help our patients manage their medicines to get better results.
On a positive note, arrangements will be put in place to enable supply from a medication chart in residential aged care facilities. Though again no details are available, it is hoped that this will reduce red tape for GPs and help reduce the large amount of time we currently spend on administrative, non face-to-face time with our patients in residential aged care facilities.
M5 Project - RACGP men's health initiative helping men to help themselves
M5 encourages men and those who care about them to recognise the importance of men forming an ongoing relationship with a GP.
