The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) has welcomed Minister for Health and Aged Care Hon. Mark Butler’s announcement of 60-day prescribing for a range of stable ongoing conditions.
College president, Dr Dan Halliday said the initiative would have significant benefits, particularly for people living in rural, remote, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“In addition to the cost savings resulting from people being able to buy two months’ supply of medicine for the price of a single prescription, it will reduce travel and other imposts for people who have to traverse long distances to get their scripts dispensed,” Dr Halliday says.
“Hopefully, the extended prescribing regime and subsequent reduced appointments for script repeats, will also allow Rural Generalists (RGs) and specialist General Practitioners (GPs) to spend more time treating patients with severe and chronic conditions, and improve community access to these services.
“We note the safety profile of the medicines to be included in this initiative has been reviewed by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, and that prescribers will still be able to make a clinical decision about whether extended prescribing is appropriate for individual patients.
“Following our discussions with the Department of Health and Aged Care, we are also confident that there will not be issues with supply of medicines.”
Dr Halliday said it was important that savings from the initiative be reinvested back into the community pharmacy sector, and particularly into rural and remote pharmacies.
“Like rural practices, we know that rural pharmacies face greater challenges in remaining viable,” he said.
“We value our pharmacist colleagues who are integral members of the healthcare team in rural and remote communities.
“ACRRM strongly supports team-based, multidisciplinary models of care, particularly where clinical pharmacists are engaged in community general practice and primary care settings, and works closely with medical colleagues to provide coordinated, high-quality, patient-centred care.
“This announcement provides an ideal opportunity to address the inequity of access for rural and remote populations and promote rural pharmacy initiatives.
“The college looks forward to working with the Minister, the Department of Health, and our pharmacy colleagues to support its implementation.”
