CPLF looks forward to focus on pharmacists
Community Pharmacy Leaders Forum
MEDIA RELEASE
1 October 2014
CPLF looks forward to focus on pharmacists
The Community Pharmacy Leaders Forum (CPLF) is extremely pleased to hear that there will be a focus on enhancing the role of pharmacists as part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement announced on Monday between National and UnitedFuture.
According to the agreement, a key policy of UnitedFuture is to update the 2007 National Medicines Strategy – Medicines New Zealand, including the "enhanced role of pharmacists in patient medicines management and primary care". This work will be led by the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand.
Dale Griffiths, President of the Pharmaceutical Society, says “CPLF representatives look forward to further progress being made on this important initiative; and we are pleased that this is a key focus of the coalition agreement. Pharmacists are ideally positioned to provide professional and affordable health care in a primary care setting.”
Ken Orr, President of the Pharmacy Guild, says “Pharmacists often fly under the radar when it comes to health policy. However pharmacists have an exceptional range of skills that can be better utilised in the health sector, especially in a health sector facing resource constraints. Community pharmacy is already working hard towards increasing patients’ medicine adherence through pharmacy’s Long Term Conditions service and further support from funders in this area would provide additional value to the patient and the health sector as a whole.
“Pharmacists are the medicine experts and often
patients’ first port of call for health care advice. With
a greater focus from the Government on enhancing the role of
pharmacists, and by continuing to develop pharmacy’s
triage and navigator role, patients will reap the rewards of
a more comprehensive health care service offered in their
communities.”