A joint project by UniSA and the University of
Sydney that will see educators visit 2500 pharmacies across Australia to improve the
standards of practice in the provision of professional services associated with requests
for non prescription medicines, has had its first run in SA.
A set of Standards previously developed by the same team, is being used to
ensure that pharmacy staff are well educated, pharmacies have the required resources and
that customers are provided with a high standard of service at all times.
The Standards include operating procedures, advice on the provision of
information to customers and counselling suggestions.
The bid to ensure that these Standards are well understood and adopted is
being supported and funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care and the Pharmacy
Guild of Australia.
The massive education program has prepared eight educators to visit
pharmacies and help staff with specific information, training and systematic audits. They
will also use "mystery shopper" visits to provide staff with feedback on the
advice and support provided to the customer.
Training workshops are also being offered to pharmacists and pharmacy
assistants around Australia to provide practical advice on how to implement the Standards.
Head of UniSA’s Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research
Centre, Associate
Professor Andrew Gilbert says the implementation program has been mounted to ensure
consumers obtain consistent, high quality services from pharmacies and achieve desired
health outcomes.
"The program which began in South Australian pharmacies in April is
currently being implemented in other states. We also intend to commence a consumer
information program shortly to explain the services consumers should expect from their
local pharmacy." Prof Gilbert said.
"The feedback we are already getting out in the field indicates that
that the new Standards have been well received. There is an understanding in most
pharmacies that, with the privileges associated with custody of these types of medicines,
there are also significant responsibilities. The Standards are a method to ensure that
those responsibilities are met.
"The education implementation program is proving to be an excellent
example of how the profession, universities and government can work together to ensure
Australians have access to quality pharmacy services."
