Consultation for a pharmacy programs agreement will soon commence.
The pharmacy programs agreement will support the health and wellbeing of Australians through medication management reviews, First Nations programs, and rural workforce and training programs. The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) will lead the process and be a signatory to the new agreement along with the Commonwealth. The pharmacy programs agreement is separate to the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement.
In addition, the independent cost-effectiveness review of existing pharmacy programs run by Deloitte on behalf of the Commonwealth will inform the content of the new agreement.
The new agreement will ensure the programs are cost-effective and provide value for patients and pharmacists through improved program design and delivery.
The Government will look to harness all these lessons in developing a new agreement in partnership, and through negotiation, with the PSA.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"The new agreement will support the Government's ongoing commitment to improving patient health outcomes and providing cheaper medicines for all Australians.
"Community pharmacies already play an integral role in the health care of their local communities. The Government wants to see pharmacists play a larger role in the primary care sector by further supporting patients.
"I look forward to working with the PSA and other pharmacy stakeholders to improve pharmacy programs to meet the health needs of Australians."
