Role of Pharmacists in the Australian Healthcare System

Pharmacy
PHARMACY
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Pharmacy
Introduction
The present state of international healthcare standards shows that pharmacists
are not only having a role to provide prescribed medicine rather they hold a more
valuable role in the medical system. In the United Kingdoms, pharmacists work to
provide independent prescriptions (as per their training) and similar extended role is
adopted in Canada providing an additional ‘prescribing role’ to the pharmacist (Hoti,
Hughes & Sunderland, 2011). The Australian healthcare system currently focuses to
expand the role of the pharmacist in their system yet the adopted approaches are very
slow and steady (Harding & Taylor, 2015). As per studies of Hoti, Hughes &
Sunderland (2014), there are more than 25,000 pharmacists in Australia out of which
21,000 work in pharmacy sector pursuing the same traditional role of providing
doctor’s prescribed medication to the patient. This makes it a matter of study, that is
the role of the pharmacist considered important in the Australian healthcare system or
not?, making it an issue matter of concern.
The current status of pharmacist’s role in the Australian healthcare system
A registered pharmacist in Australia undergoes a degree program (4year
Bachelor or 2year Master of Pharmacy) followed by 1-year professional training as
per the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC). However, these highly qualified
pharmacist work as professional assistance and technicians in hospital and community
pharmacies functioning to supply medicines, undertake management tasks like
refilling stock, supplying ward medicines, aseptic compounding and other
administrative responsibilities (Harding & Taylor, 2015). The traditional pharmacist
in community pharmacy practice plays the role of advisor, primary care provider and
medicine provider to the patient. This role of the pharmacist is designed as per ‘the
remuneration healthcare model’ followed in the Australian healthcare system.
Unfortunately, this model does not support the patient centred approach of care.
According to Famiyeh & McCarthy (2017) studies, the Australian pharmacy
integration in healthcare structure lags behind many other countries. The Australian
healthcare system is being slow to implementing modern care models; transitional
care methods and e-health enablement in pharmacy field development. However,
Bond (2015) indicated that the Australian healthcare system considers these modern
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Pharmacy
approaches as a threat to healthcare quality rather than opportunities to deliver better
patient-oriented care.
Further, Noble & Billett (2017) mentioned that Australia currently does not
provide any training program for pharmacists who are willing to work in the hospital
sector rather these pharmacists can only find a position in hospital pharmacy after
finishing their registration. There are only 10% pharmacist every year who get proper
hospital training only as an intern but later they are allowed to perform a generalist
role for clinical services, information services etc. However, Famiyeh & McCarthy
(2017) indicated that the current and future status of pharmacist in Australia is
regularly getting modified to attain better patient services from professionals. As per
new standards of clinical pharmacy published in 2013, pharmacists have attained a
better role in clinical services where they work in a collaborative manner with other
healthcare professionals rather than just assisting them in the medication process. As
per these standards, the pharmacist can perform medication reconciliation, drug
monitoring, drug reaction management, clinical reviewing and quality improvement
activity. Further, the pharmacist can practice in research, provide medical
information, contribute to medicine management activities as well as participate in
ward meeting in hospitals.
The future vision of pharmacist role in the Australian healthcare system
Moles & Stehlik (2015) studies about two future directions for pharmacist role
in Australian healthcare practice. These are “The advance level pharmacist” and “The
prescribing level pharmacist”. The advance practice of a pharmacist involves
working as a mentor in their specific practice field. The advance practice areas are
developed as per patient requirement, education standards, care quality standards and
medication review to medical fields such as compounding and oncology for the
pharmacist. These pharmacist practicing advance level are also known as a ‘specialist
pharmacist’. Secondly, “the prescribing pharmacist” is another future direction
moulding pharmacist role in the Australian healthcare system. However, the
prescribing pharmacist is currently not a legal trend in Australia. There is no proper
law in Australia that allows a pharmacist to prescribe medicines (Part 5- the future of
pharmacy, 2019). But, Bond (2015) indicated that there are 2 schedules, in the 1st
schedule, pharmacist can suggest pharmacy medicines to the patient’s that are sold in
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