❓ Health—Pharmacy-based care 545. Ms Divina D'Anna to the Minister for Health: I refer to the Cook Labor government's priority to ensure that all Western Australians can access the health care they need
AnsweredQoN 545Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Health—Pharmacy-based care
545. Ms Divina D'Anna to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's priority to ensure that all Western Australians can access
the health care they need when and where they need it.
(1) Can the minister update the house on how the
government is working to improve access to treatments for a range of common
health conditions?
(2) Can the minister also advise how this work
will provide convenience while also easing pressure on the public health
system?
545. Ms Divina D'Anna to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's priority to ensure that all Western Australians can access
the health care they need when and where they need it.
(1) Can the minister update the house on how the
government is working to improve access to treatments for a range of common
health conditions?
(2) Can the minister also advise how this work
will provide convenience while also easing pressure on the public health
system?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. I know she is a
strong advocate for high-quality and accessible health care right across
the Kimberley in the community where she lives.
(1)–(2) We know that in rural and regional
areas in particular community pharmacists are often the first port of call when
people are seeking guidance on a medical matter. It is incredibly important
that we look at all the ways we can use our pharmacists. That is why we are
backing them in and making access to care quicker and easier for Western
Australians. As members may recall, this year's state budget included $1.26 million
to support the rollout of our successful enhanced access community pharmacy
pilot. In July this year, the government opened applications for eligible
pharmacists to be able to enrol in the training they need to take part in that
program. I am very pleased to let the member know that the first cohort of 40
pharmacists is now undertaking the accredited training, delivered by James Cook
University in conjunction with Curtin University, to take on an expanded
healthcare role so they can be part of the pilot program in their communities.
The Australian Pharmacy Council accredited
training program makes sure that those pharmacists will have the skills and
knowledge they need to treat a wide range of common and simple conditions. I am
particularly proud to say that over 30% of participants are from regional
Western Australian pharmacies. That is no accident, because we made sure that,
as part of our rollout, pharmacists from regional WA would be attracted to
doing the training by offering them a higher subsidy so that they could
participate in it. Pharmacists from a number of regional areas are taking part
in the training, including from Broome and Derby, which I know the member will
be pleased to hear, and also Albany, Boulder, Bunbury, Collie, Dalyellup,
Pinjarra, Port Hedland, Newman, Margaret River and Denham. A range of
pharmacists from right around the state are taking part in that training to be
part of the pilot program and will commence once they have completed the
training program. When those pharmacists are qualified and authorised, they
will be able to diagnose and treat a wide range of simple conditions such as
ear infections, acne and asthma. That builds on the successful pilot programs
we had for resupplying the oral contraceptive pill and being able to treat
routine urinary tract infections.
We are making very exciting progress
and expect that the pilot program will start in pharmacies in 2026 with those
trained and accredited pharmacists ready to go. They will be stepping up to
deliver health care in their communities.
Members, this is just another
example of how our government is making sure that Western Australians get
access to the health care that they need, when they need it and where they need
it.
The Speaker: Member for Geraldton, with the last
question.
strong advocate for high-quality and accessible health care right across
the Kimberley in the community where she lives.
(1)–(2) We know that in rural and regional
areas in particular community pharmacists are often the first port of call when
people are seeking guidance on a medical matter. It is incredibly important
that we look at all the ways we can use our pharmacists. That is why we are
backing them in and making access to care quicker and easier for Western
Australians. As members may recall, this year's state budget included $1.26 million
to support the rollout of our successful enhanced access community pharmacy
pilot. In July this year, the government opened applications for eligible
pharmacists to be able to enrol in the training they need to take part in that
program. I am very pleased to let the member know that the first cohort of 40
pharmacists is now undertaking the accredited training, delivered by James Cook
University in conjunction with Curtin University, to take on an expanded
healthcare role so they can be part of the pilot program in their communities.
The Australian Pharmacy Council accredited
training program makes sure that those pharmacists will have the skills and
knowledge they need to treat a wide range of common and simple conditions. I am
particularly proud to say that over 30% of participants are from regional
Western Australian pharmacies. That is no accident, because we made sure that,
as part of our rollout, pharmacists from regional WA would be attracted to
doing the training by offering them a higher subsidy so that they could
participate in it. Pharmacists from a number of regional areas are taking part
in the training, including from Broome and Derby, which I know the member will
be pleased to hear, and also Albany, Boulder, Bunbury, Collie, Dalyellup,
Pinjarra, Port Hedland, Newman, Margaret River and Denham. A range of
pharmacists from right around the state are taking part in that training to be
part of the pilot program and will commence once they have completed the
training program. When those pharmacists are qualified and authorised, they
will be able to diagnose and treat a wide range of simple conditions such as
ear infections, acne and asthma. That builds on the successful pilot programs
we had for resupplying the oral contraceptive pill and being able to treat
routine urinary tract infections.
We are making very exciting progress
and expect that the pilot program will start in pharmacies in 2026 with those
trained and accredited pharmacists ready to go. They will be stepping up to
deliver health care in their communities.
Members, this is just another
example of how our government is making sure that Western Australians get
access to the health care that they need, when they need it and where they need
it.
The Speaker: Member for Geraldton, with the last
question.
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