Fri 15 November 2024
MM2024: Australia’s largest (and greenest) scientific pharmacy conference ignites in Adelaide
Medicines Management 2024 opens with strong sustainability focus, a new international partnership and release of the long-awaited AdPha Clinical Pharmacy Standards.
Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha)’s 48th national conference – Medicines Management 2024 (MM2024) – has begun with more than 1,000 delegates descending on Adelaide with the newly released practice standards a highlight of the opening plenary.
In opening statements, the Hon. Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care congratulated AdPha on a watershed year while emphasising the importance that hospital-informed care will have on expanded scope of practice and primary care going forward that is multidisciplinary, collaborative and puts the patient at the centre.
‘Your organisation has proved itself to be really positive agents for change and this year has proved that more than most.
‘The transition from SHPA to AdPha from hospital to advanced pharmacy has demonstrated to your profession to your members and to the government that you're stepping up to support a profession, that is being called upon, to expand its scope of practice and to share its expertise in new and increasingly needed ways.
‘It's often said that the only constant in life is change. And change is never easy.
‘The change comes opportunity though as well. And if you're willing to embrace the change and lead into the challenge, those opportunities are maximized. Your organisation has really proved itself to be up to that task this year, and I think it's stronger for it.’
AdPha President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) formally announced the release of AdPha’s Clinical Pharmacy Standards, Australia’s foremost standards for clinical pharmacy practice.
‘The Standards have been shaped by input from hundreds of members, and external organisations, reflecting the rapidly evolving pharmacy landscape in Australia, and the contemporary and emerging practices that complete the patient journey in and out of hospital.
‘They have been meticulously updated for current and leading practice, and I thank Editorial Committee Chair Professor Michael Dooley for his leadership and all editors and reviewers for their contributions.’
By offsetting carbon emissions for attendee travel through partnership with the Adelaide Convention Centre, Mr Simpson says the stage is set for the greenest ever Medicines Management conference, with sustainability announced as the theme for MedsAware 2025.
'Adelaide Convention Centre is a beacon of sustainability – the world’s first convention centre to achieve EarthChecks coveted Master certification – and a number of MM2024 sessions are dedicated to both planetary and human health.
‘It is a fitting time and place to announce the theme for MedsAware: Deprescribing Action Week in 2025 will be empowering safe and sustainable use of medicines.
‘Building “planetary consciousness” in healthcare practice, policy, research, and education is critical; we cannot ignore the fact that climate change is the biggest health threat of this century.’
The AdPha-led campaign, with returning partners including the Australian Deprescribing Network (ADeN), will go international for the first time, thanks to a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding with the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) also announced today.
'We are excited to be forging stronger ties with our European counterparts.,’ says Mr Simpson.
'This MoU will help bring international awareness to key patient care initiatives, such as our deprescribing awareness campaign, and we are looking forward to engaging EAHP to help amplify what has already proven to be a successful national initiative.
'We look forward to working together on this and many other initiatives to support our practitioners and advance patient care across the globe.'
AdPha Chief Executive Kristin Michaels says the conference, under the theme ‘It starts with a spark’, boasts a wide-ranging and diverse program reflecting the importance of the scientific community as a catalyst for change.
'The format for Medicines Management is constantly evolving and the team have done an incredible job combining innovation and inspiration through topics including AI, synthetic opioids and pharmacogenomics.
'The program is replete with new ideas at the cutting-edge of pharmacy practice, all designed to illuminate new ways of thinking that can bring positive change to patients in our care.
'This is what hospital pharmacists and technicians have always done and continue to do: lead hospital-informed change in diverse care settings to ensure safer and more effective care reaches more Australians, in and around our hospitals.’