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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-12-03 Daily Xml
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Bills

Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (South Australia) (Telepharmacy) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 15 October 2020.)

The Hon. C. BONAROS (16:25): I rise to speak for five minutes on behalf of SA-Best on the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (South Australia)(Telepharmacy) Amendment Bill. If there is one thing that COVID-19 has taught us, indeed forced us to acknowledge, it is that we have to be open to adapting to new and innovative ways of doing things, especially via technology. This bill seeks to clearly and expressly enshrine telepharmacy into South Australian legislation. That is, in my view, a good reform.

It confirms the power of the Pharmacy Regulation Authority South Australia to authorise the remote supervision of pharmacies by pharmacists under strict conditions. PRASA, as the authority responsible for the administration of pharmaceuticals in this state, has been proceeding on the understanding that telepharmacy is not in fact prohibited. Express temporary measures were confirmed earlier this year via the COVID-19 emergency response bill that we passed and extended under the subsequent response legislation to February next year.

This bill intends to remove any possibility of doubt going forward. It does not appear to create any loopholes for new business models to operate entirely by remote means. Telepharmacy services will only be authorised in certain circumstances, namely, when a person would not otherwise be able to access pharmacy services in a timely and direct manner and when all reasonable steps have been taken for code of conduct compliance by the provider.

Again, as 2020 has proven, the delivery of pharmacy care via telecommunication has proven to be an invaluable healthcare tool. It is particularly useful when physical presence is not a logistical option and in instances where it is necessary for infection control. Falling under the broad category of telehealth, telepharmacy has contributed to keeping both patients and pharmacists safe during this pandemic. Remote consultations were already gaining traction in the pre-COVID era but, as I said, I think it is fair to say that that the events of this year have cemented the future of these practices as part of the healthcare sphere.

It is a practical solution to the tyranny of distance, immobility and disease control. It means pharmacists can see more patients, work more flexible hours and continue to operate extended business hours without requiring the physical attendance of staff. It also means that they can support healthcare self-management any time of the day or night, any day of the week. The provision of these services, I think, is particularly beneficial for South Australians living in isolated communities, because we know from research carried out by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2019, and just generally, that people living in remote areas generally have poorer health outcomes and less access to the sorts of services that they need, deserve and are entitled to.

Preventable hospitalisation rates for people living in these remote areas are, as we know, worse than for people living in major cities. Average life expectancy decreases and, as remoteness increases, the physical option of consulting with a GP, specialist, pharmacist, physio or psychologist decreases. We need to use all the tools available to close this gap.

There are about 32,000 registered pharmacists in Australia, which is about 4.3 per cent of all registered health practitioners. They have a significant role to play, not just in a physical sense but because we know COVID is not the only pandemic threatening South Australians. The profession is one of the most trusted, I think, and is perfectly positioned to identify mental health risk factors, especially for the most isolated and vulnerable.

Even before COVID, it was estimated that one in five Australians experience mental health illness every year, commonly taking the form of depression, anxiety and substance abuse disorders. We know that 45 per cent of Australians will experience a mental illness at some stage in their lives, and more than half of them do not access treatment.

So pharmacists, as I said, I think are perfectly placed to start the conversation, and they are already doing that when making supply determinations in the pharmacy setting. There is often a link between substance misuse and deeper issues warranting treatment, a link which can be identified with the very specialised skill and training of a pharmacist. This is, of course, just one of the many recognisable benefits to the remote provision of pharmacy services. There are many more: post-discharge medication counselling, improved medication management, cost efficiencies, improved patient satisfaction. In my view, the bill is a no-brainer. I look forward to being part of improved healthcare outcomes for those South Australians who need them most.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. D.G.E. Hood.

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