Pharmacy Leaders Forum discuss issues facing sector

Community Pharmacy Leaders Forum discuss issues facing sector

The Community Pharmacy Leaders Forum (CPLF) met last week as part of its regular ongoing meeting schedule.

Items up for discussion included the way forward to the 2017 contract, recalls, waste management, immunisation, the Community Pharmacy Services Agreement (PSA) extension, Community Pharmacy Anti-coagulation Management Service (CPAMS), illegal trade of prescription medicine, and common ailment service, among others.

Ken Orr, Pharmacy Guild President, and Chair of CPLF said “There was great alignment among CPLF representatives regarding the key issues currently facing the pharmacy sector.

“One of the more pressing issues discussed was the CPSA extension proposal. CPLF representatives share concerns that the lack of meaningful funding to support the CPSA extension will threaten the sustainability of community pharmacy’s service delivery.

“During the meeting, representatives were very supportive of the role community pharmacy plays in providing professional, accessible and valuable services to patients and communities. The group expressed they were pleased that Waikato DHB saw value in making the provision of funded influenza vaccines for over 65 year olds available in pharmacy.

“It was also noted that Canterbury DHB has shown their support for the delivery of MTA and MUR services by pharmacy. This demonstrates how pharmacy is not only
valued by patients but also by funders. We welcome funder support to extend across a wider range of areas that would benefit patients.”

CPLF representatives continue to find the forum’s regular meetings a positive and proactive way of ensuring alignment between sector representatives on the key issues facing community pharmacy and will work to maximise pharmacy’s contribution to primary and secondary health care.

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