QAIHC Public Health Medical Director, Associate Professor Sophia Couzos provides an overview of the QAIHC position statement on pharmacists in ACCHOs.
QAIHC is advocating for a funded program to enable Queensland and other states’ ACCHOs to employ non-dispensing pharmacists within their health services.
A national trial completed in 2021, led by QAIHC and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), proved that integrating pharmacists into ACCHOs significantly improved patient outcomes. Pharmacists joined clinic teams to directly support patients, working alongside doctors, nurses and Aboriginal health workers to improve medication management and chronic disease care.
The study showed remarkable health improvements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with chronic diseases, including better diabetes and blood pressure control, improved kidney function, and more patients took their medicines more regularly and as needed, compared to before.
The presence of pharmacists reduced prescribing errors, quadrupled the number of medicine reviews by doctors, and made patients feel healthier overall.
Pharmacists worked as part of the clinic team, assisting doctors with medication management and supporting patients to understand their medications. They addressed complex medication regimens, especially for patients on multiple prescriptions, ensuring safer and more effective use of medicines. Unlike traditional pharmacists, these professionals engaged with patients in clinics or homes, rather than in pharmacies.
The Integrated Pharmacists within Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services (IPAC) Study tracked over 1,400 patients across Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Victoria.
Results demonstrated that pharmacists reduced medication errors, helped patients take their medicine, and contributed to better health outcomes.
The study findings were independently reviewed and endorsed by the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), which recommended public funding for this model.
MSAC advised the Federal Health Minister that integrating pharmacists into ACCHOs is a cost-effective, safe, and culturally appropriate approach to improve chronic disease management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
MSAC noted that this model offers better value for money compared to existing medication programs that First Nations people rarely access.
There is a higher prevalence of chronic disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, coupled with limited access to medications. The pharmacist model addresses these disparities by ensuring patients receive the care they need to manage their health, stay out of hospitals, and return to work faster. This approach is especially beneficial for older people and those managing complex medication routines.
MSAC estimated that the cost per patient would range from $1,300 to $1,700 annually, with a total program cost of around $15 million per year. This is lower than other medication review programs that have limited reach within First Nations communities. NACCHO, QAIHC, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia are ready to implement this program, with support from the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association.
QAIHC is calling on the federal government to collaborate on implementing this proven model to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The evidence is clear: this program works, is cost-effective, and can make a meaningful difference in closing the health gap.
Read the full position statement on our website via the QR code below.
