Polices and strategies to help ensure equity of
access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients to culturally safe
primary healthcare services in rural, regional and remote areas must be a
priority for any Federal Government following the May election.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the National
Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) are seeking a clear
and timely commitment from the major political parties to reform the Indigenous
Pharmacy Programs to provide better healthcare access and services for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander patients in these regions.

NACCHO Acting Chairperson Ms Donnella Mills said that
while the Indigenous Pharmacy Programs have improved medicines access and use for
Aboriginal people across Australia, more needs to be done.

“NACCHO member services continue to provide feedback
on the urgent need to reform these programs. 
There are still patients who are not serviced effectively by these
programs and some who are falling through the gaps,” Ms Mills said.

“Medicines access for Aboriginal people is still below
that of the overall Australian population and access is not commensurate with
the burden of disease that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people suffer. 

Through our members’ feedback and the Indigenous Pharmacy
Programs review, we know how the system needs to be improved.  Now it is time for political leaders to act.”

National President of the Pharmacy Guild George
Tambassis said community pharmacies are a key component of primary healthcare
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

“To date significant gains have been achieved
through the current Indigenous Pharmacy Programs and successful and sustainable
partnerships between Indigenous health services and community pharmacies have
helped to provide services for Aboriginal people that improve health outcomes
and assist in Closing the Gap,” Mr Tambassis said.

“But we need to do more and we need to reform the Indigenous
Pharmacy Programs to move with the changing needs of these patients and the
changing health environment of their communities.”

Integrated, comprehensive pharmaceutical care is
the requisite standard that should be delivered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people living in urban, regional and remote Australia. Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples should have equitable access to medicines,
pharmacy programs and QUM services regardless of where they live.

To achieve this, following reforms to improve Indigenous
Pharmacy Programs must be regarded as mandatory by any incoming government.

• Expand the authority to write Close the Gap scripts
  for all prescribers.
• Make the Close the Gap client registration process more
  straightforward and accessible.
• Link medicines subsidy to
  individual clients and not practices through a national identifier.
• Improve how remote clients can receive fully
  subsidised medicines in non-remote areas.
• Increase and better target funding
  for Quality Use of Medicines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  and health services.

MEDIA CONTACT:  

Greg Turnbull (Pharmacy Guild) 0412 910 261  |  Colin Cowell (NACCHO) 0401 331 251