The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGPs) has praised the Government's new on-site pharmacist model, which came into effect on 1 July 2024, yet warned prescribing must continue through GPs or risk "fragmentation" of care.
Under the scheme an aged care home must first attempt to access a pharmacist through a community-based pharmacy.
If that pharmacy can't help, then the aged care home can access Federal Government funding to engage an on-site pharmacist at a ratio of one on-site pharmacist per 250 beds.
Community pharmacies can also access funding to employ on-site pharmacists in residential aged care homes.
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins (pictured right) said the scheme needs to be linked with patients' GPs.
"What we don’t want to see is fragmentation of care through government policy," she said.
She said the scheme could also lead to further ‘corporatisation’ of aged care.
"It’s really important to have pharmacy involved with aged care, but we also don’t want it being contracted out to big pharmacy," she said.
The optional scheme is aligned with the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety's recommendation to improve medication management in residential aged care.
