Advice has been received from the Department of Health on the agreement to participate in a process of Pharmaceutical reform in public hospitals. This advice follows a detailed feasibility study and the successful uptake of the reforms in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The key outcomes of the reform are:

• Increased equity of access to medications for patients via public hospital, access to medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and

• Improved safety and quality of medication services through implementation of the Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Councils (APAC) guiding principles to achieve continuity in medication management.

ACCESS TO PBS MEDICINES

• Hospital doctors will be able to write hospital prescriptions for PBS listed medicines for patients attending outpatient clinics on discharge and when receiving chemotherapy as a day/admitted or non/admitted patient.

• Hospital pharmacies will have approval to dispense and claim reimbursement for PBS items written on hospital prescriptions under section 94 of the National Health Act 1953.

• Patients will receive the same quantity of PBS medicines for the same cost as when dispensed by a Community Pharmacy. This is particularly beneficial for discharge where currently hospitals only provide minimal quantity (e.g. 4/7 day supply)

MEDICATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES

• The South Australian and Federal Government have agreed to a set of milestones for implementing the APAC guiding principles to achieve continuity in medication management.

• Public Hospitals have been supported to recruit clinical pharmacists to assist medical staff and patients with the management and review of medicines at admission, during admission, and prior to discharge.

• Accurate and timely communication to primary health care providers responsible for continuing the patient's medication management on discharge is a key focus of the APAC principle implementation.

The key stakeholders associated with this reform are public hospital patients, doctors and pharmacists.

A communication strategy has been developed to ensure appropriate information and education will be provided to all stakeholders.

Medicare Australia will provide comprehensive PBS training for hospital doctors and pharmacists prior to the implementation of the reforms at each site.

Members are advised that the Pharmaceutical reforms will commence in the major metropolitan hospitals in a staged process beginning in the latter part of 2008.

More information can be found on www.safetyandquality.sa.gov.au/pharmreforms

For enquiries please contact Ms Dolly Costello, Industrial Officer on 8205 3244 or dlc@cpsu.asn.au

PSA WORKING FOR MEMBERS