The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) have today signed a second Memorandum of Understanding to further strengthen collaborative efforts between the two organisations.
The newly agreed framework focuses on the commitment and cooperation of both organisations to look at ways of working together in order to improve patient health outcomes within the context of health services delivered in a primary healthcare setting.
Collectively, the RACGP and the PSA represent 37,000 primary healthcare professionals responsible for the Quality Use of Medicines in Australia.
National President of the PSA, Grant Kardachi, said the MoU was an important development in further strengthening the collaboration between general practitioners and pharmacists.
“This is a very significant agreement which will have a major impact on improving the consumer health outcomes across Australia,” Mr Kardachi said.
“The agreement will develop and foster an ongoing strategic alliance between both professions; an alliance designed to improve the delivery of health services across the country.
"Our professions have had a long standing commitment to the Quality Use of Medicines. Signing of this MoU reinforces the team-based approach to primary healthcare, which will further advance the linkage and collaboration of health services.
“It will also strengthen the communication, liaison and cooperation between the PSA and RACGP in policy development, education and training, media management and advocacy where there is mutual patient benefit.”
Mr Kardachi said another positive outcome of the MoU will be to promote collaborative research and exchange of information on specific mutually agreed topics.
RACGP President, Dr Liz Marles said, “we will aim to present a unified voice in developing policies and solutions particularly around medication management that will benefit all patients and both professions.
“This alliance represents the vast majority of GPs and pharmacists across Australia and sees both professions unified as a more powerful combined voice.
“We welcome this alliance as a great step forward in a new healthcare environment where the importance of collaboration, cooperation and team care are vital in achieving accessible health services and improved patient health outcomes,” Dr Marles said.