Thu 13 February 2025
Calls for cost-effective healthcare solutions ahead of WA Election
AdPha’s election priorities will enhance hospital pharmacy workforce stability, optimise health system resources and improve patient outcomes.
Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) is calling on WA’s next elected government to invest in the hospital pharmacy workforce and expand its scope of practice as part of healthcare measures designed to give Western Australians better access to safe, high-quality care.
In the lead up to the 2025 WA State Election being held early March, AdPha has outlined two key election priorities including: commitment to the statewide roll out of Partnered Pharmacist Medication Prescribing (PPMP) and a $67.7 million investment into strengthening and sustaining the ailing WA Health hospital pharmacy workforce.
AdPha President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) says both measures will improve healthcare system efficiency while ensuring a strong pipeline of skilled pharmacists to meet the increasing health needs of Western Australians.
‘As Western Australia's population continues to grow, so does the demand on its healthcare system. Coupled with ongoing workforce shortages and the unique challenges of its geographic isolation - especially Perth which is often called the most isolated big city in the world - it’s more important than ever to support its dedicated healthcare workforce.
‘Hospital pharmacy departments are feeling the strain, facing high staff turnover and retention challenges. Without the right investment, these pressures will only increase.
‘Pharmacists play a vital role in patient care, and with broader health workforce shortages, investing in pharmacy is essential to ensuring sustainable, high-quality healthcare for our communities.
‘Our proposal was developed with input from the WA Chief Pharmacists Forum and aligns with the WA Health Workforce Strategy while supporting the National Allied health Workforce Strategy currently under development.
‘The proposed investment will mean roughly 130 additional positions covering pharmacy interns, early-career pharmacists, pharmacist registrars and clinical educators are created to support patient care and ensure long-term sustainability of the WA pharmacy workforce.’
AdPha is further calling for the incoming WA government to expand collaborative pharmacist prescribing in hospitals that are commensurate with ongoing investment in expanding scope of community pharmacists.
‘PPMP is a proven model that improves healthcare system efficiency, frees up medical and nursing capacity, and strengthens safe, high-quality medicines management. It has shown to be ten times safer for patients, who spend 10% less time in hospital as a result.
‘The AdPha team and WA Chief Pharmacists have met with the government in recent months to make the case for implementing PPMP state-wide and ahead of this election, we are seeking a commitment to action this in the next term.
‘The partnered charting model currently in practice at the Fiona Stanley Hospital has demonstrated a 92.7% reduction in medication error rates per admission compared to standard prescribing models. We also know that the doctors strongly appreciate this service, as it gives them back time for direct patient care while they are experiencing medical workforce shortages.
’And not only does PPMP improve patient outcomes, but it can also save the WA government substantial healthcare costs. A multi-site evaluation of collaborative prescribing extrapolated to WA’s hospital system could generate approximately $111 million in savings.
’While we recognise statewide rollout of PPMP would require amendments to the WA Medicines and Poisons Regulations, this is a necessary step given the significant benefits it will bring to Western Australians.’