The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Victoria Branch welcomes the confirmation of funding to the community health sector to improve access to pharmacotherapy services in the 2024/25 Victorian State Budget.
The funding forms part of the Budget’s $95 million allocation for the Statewide Action Plan for Victorians struggling with chronic addiction.
The plan was announced in late April, when the Victorian Government earmarked $8.4 million funding for pharmacotherapy grants as part of a range of harm minimisation initiatives.
“The Guild looks forward to meeting with the Minister for Mental Health, the Hon Ingrid Stitt MP, in the coming days to obtain more information on the grants program and what it means for community pharmacy.
“We remain committed to working with government to ensure pharmacy service providers are appropriately remunerated to promote access to care for patients,” Mr Tassone said.
The Guild also welcomes the Victorian Government’s $13 billion boost to support the delivery of healthcare.
“We know that improved access to healthcare leads to improved patient outcomes,” said Mr Tassone.
“This has already been demonstrated by the positive experiences the Victorian community pharmacy prescribing pilot has already delivered to thousands of Victorian patients.
“While the pilot is due to end in October 2024, given its success so far, we expect this to become an ongoing service which should be supported by funding to promote ongoing patient access,” he said.
