The confirmation that a statewide community pharmacy pilot would become permanent and expanded was welcome news to local pharmacies.
After an 18-month pilot program, seeing pharmacists offer treatment for things like uncomplicated UTIs and resupplying the oral contraceptive pill, the initiative became permanent from 1 July.
Lilydale Amcal Pharmacy owner Frank Kazantzis said he was excited by the announcement because of “the confidence it shows in the pharmacy industry to be able to offer high-quality health services”.
“The program is in its early days, however, pharmacists have always been accessible health professionals, and so expanding our scope of practice will undoubtedly increase health service access,” he said.
The pilot was initially set up to cut out the middleman for everyday conditions like urinary tract infections (UTI), travel, or other vaccines, and mild psoriasis or shingles management.
With the permanency of the program, the State Government announced it would extend the in-pharmacy treatment options from five to 22.
Mr Kazantzis said the expansion of services would take time to roll out, given the need for training and coordination, but that it would be possible.
“I absolutely think the expansion of the program is a beneficial thing for the community,” he said.
“How will it fold into our current pharmacy offer? I think I’ll still need to wait for more information to come out, and review accordingly.
“The training to upskill to be able to provide these services is significant and it will therefore be quite some time until we see these services rolled out. However, I’m confident we’ll be able to offer the full raft of services in due course.”
The Victorian President of the Pharmacy Guild, George Tambassis, also welcomed the expansion of the program and the commitment from the government to improve health access.
“The Government’s commitment to ensure pharmacists in Victoria can provide services for the same conditions available in other States and Territories is a huge win for patients,” he said.
“Over the next two years, following the completion of training, patients will be able to see their community pharmacist for conditions such as ear infections, asthma and acute nausea and vomiting.”
Currently, Mr Kazantzis said women make up the largest cohort of people accessing the community pharmacy program in his pharmacy, with urinary tract infection treatment the most inquired about condition.
“The fact that we’re able to assist in this area, where sometimes women can’t get into their GP in a timely manner is greatly beneficial,” he said.
But despite the general understanding that pharmacies offer increased services to the community, Mr Kazantzis said more awareness of the program specifically was necessary.
“My hope is that the government will continue to promote these to the public.”
While a number of pharmacies in the Yarra Ranges now offer services under the community pharmacy program, Mr Kazantzis said the training of staff, particularly pharmacists, “is a barrier to offering the service”.
“The training modules for pharmacists are quite in-depth and so it can be difficult to have all pharmacists able to offer the service,” he said.
“We will find over time, however, and especially now that the program has become permanent, that more and more pharmacists will be completing the training.”
In the Yarra Ranges, Mt Evelyn Pharmacy, Belgrave Community Pharmacy, Seville Village Pharmacy, Launching Place Pharmacy, Healesville Walk Pharmacy and Priceline Pharmacy Mooroolbark are just some of the participating pharmacies.
To find out more about what services are available and the location of participating pharmacies, visit betterhealth.vic.gov.au/community-pharmacist-program
