In this episode, Dr Anita Muñoz speaks with Mia Jessurun from the Grattan Institute about the report, Future Pharmacy: A Better Deal for Patients and Taxpayers. They unpack how pharmacy is funded and regulated in Australia, what this means for medicine prices, expanded pharmacist services and why integrated pharmacists in general practice could be a key part of safer, more transparent primary care:

• Unpack why current community pharmacy agreements are uniquely opaque in Australia
• Explore proposals to end pharmacy funding deals, move pricing to IHACPA, and remove ownership and location rules that limit competition
• Understand how current dispensing fees and add on charges affect PBS medicines costs
• Examine the evidence and equity issues around expanded pharmacy services and pharmacist prescribing
• Learn how embedded, non-dispensing pharmacists in general practices and ACCHOs can enhance multidisciplinary primary care and improve patient outcomes

Expert: Mia Jessurun, Associate, Grattan Institute

Host: Dr Anita Muñoz, GP & Medical Educator

Total time: 46 mins

Recommended resources

• Future pharmacy: A better deal for patients and taxpayers | Grattan Institute
• The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
• Independent Hospital and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA)
• Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC)
• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
• Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA)
• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
• Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)
• My Health Record
• National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation