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Community Pharmacy Stakeholder Forum

Page last updated: 20 September 2019

Please note: The information on this page may no longer be current and is only included here for historical reference.

Current information is maintained on the Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement page.

This page provides information about the Community Pharmacy Stakeholder Forum.

Community Pharmacy Stakeholder Forum (CPSF) Background 

The CPSF is an element of the new governance measures established for the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement (6CPA).  The CPSF allows broad stakeholder consultation and is consistent with advice received through a review of the governance arrangements of the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement.

The CPSF provides an avenue for the 6CPA delivery partners to communicate with key stakeholders in the sector and is a conduit for the Australian Government Department of Health (the Department) and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (the Guild) to communicate with a broad range of stakeholders with a vested interest in the provision of pharmaceutical benefits and related matters and issues.

The CPSF is hosted by the Department and Guild. It meets as required and is open by invitation to identified stakeholders, as agreed by the Department and the Guild.

Terms of Reference 

The Terms of Reference for the CPSF were developed by the Department and the Guild and outlines the functions, composition and administration arrangements of the CPSF.  The Terms of Reference were approved by the then Minister of Health and Aged Care, on 3 February 2016.

New Pharmacy Agreement

For more information on the new (7th) Community Pharmacy Agreement please visit the Department of Health website.

2019 Community Pharmacy Stakeholder Forum

The fourth and final meeting of the CPSF under the 6CPA was a half day event held in Sydney on Friday 6 September 2019.  The Forum included two presentations with opportunities to ask questions with each presentation.  The third presentation was a facilitated panel discussion session with Forum members given the opportunity to raise matters and ask questions of key members of the 6CPA oversight committee.

Presentations

Topic 1: Pharmacy Trial Program Update

1.1   Overview of all Pharmacy Trial Programs
Presented by Mariana Crank and Natasha Ploenges, Directors, Pharmacy Branch, Technology Assessment and Access Division, Department of Health and Marsha Gomez, National Manager, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia.

Overview of all Pharmacy Trial Programs (PDF 641KB) 
Overview of all Pharmacy Trial Programs (DOC 278KB)

Topic 2: Rural Workforce

2.1   Overview of Rural Workforce
Presented by Katherine Power, Acting Assistant Secretary, Rural Access Branch, Health Workforce Division, Department of Health.

Overview of Rural Workforce (PDF 579KB)
Overview of Rural Workforce (DOC 645KB)

Topic 3: Panel discussion: reflections on the 6CPA

Facilitator: Greg Turnbull, Group Executive, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
Panel: Adriana Platona and Ben Sladic, Department of Health
Trent Twomey and Fiona Mitchell, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia

2018 Community Pharmacy Stakeholder Forum 

The third meeting of the CPSF was a half day event held in Sydney on Friday 7 September 2018.  The program included five presentations, with opportunities to ask questions at the conclusion of each session. 

Presentations 

Topic 1: Government response to the Review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation

1.1   Overview of the Government Response to the Review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation (Pharmacy Review)
Presented by Adriana Platona, First Assistant Secretary, Technology Assessment and Access Division, Department of Health

Topic 2: Pharmacy Trial Program updates

2.1: Integrating Pharmacists into Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services
Presented by Associate Professor Sophie Couzos, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University

2.2: Improved Medication for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through pharmacist advice and culturally appropriate services (IMeRSE)
Presented by Dr Fiona Kelly, School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Griffith University

Topic 3: Progress update on New and Expanded Pharmacy Programs

3.1: Uptake of redesigned Pharmacy Programs
Presented by Mr David Quilty, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia

3.2: Evaluation of the New/Expanded 6CPA Pharmacy Programs
Presented by Mr Joe Scuteri, HealthConsult

2017 Community Pharmacy Stakeholder Forum

The second meeting of the CPSF was a half day event held in Canberra on Monday 27 November 2017.  The program included four presentations, with opportunities to ask questions at the conclusion of each session.  Participants were given the opportunity to raise matters that were not covered by the program and ask questions of key members of the 6CPA oversight committee during a final plenary session.

Presentations

Topic 1: Update on the progress of Pharmacy Trials Program Tranche 1 Trials

1.1: Pharmacy Diabetes Screening Trial
Presented by Professor Ines Crass, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney

1.2: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medication Review Service Trial
Presented by Professor Amanda Wheeler, Griffith University

Topic 2: Outcomes of the Pharmacy Programs Cost Effectiveness Review

Presented by Mr Joe Scuteri, HealthConsult

Topic 3: Progress of Commitments – Compact between the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Department of Health

Presented by Trent Twomey, National Councillor, Pharmacy Guild of Australia

Inaugural Community Pharmacy Stakeholder Forum

The first meeting of the CPSF was a one day event held in Canberra on Tuesday 15 November 2016.  The forum program topics were chosen by stakeholders through a survey conducted prior to the forum.

The program provided a balance between presentations and table discussions, with opportunities to ask questions within each session.  Participants were given the opportunity to raise matters that were not covered by the program and ask questions of key members the 6CPA oversight committee during a final plenary session.

Forum Program 

The forum program outlines the speakers and proceedings for the day:

Keynote Speakers and Presentations

Opening address:  Andrew Stuart, Acting Secretary, Department of Health 

Acting Secretary Andrew Stuart opened the forum with an acknowledgment of the traditional custodians of the land and welcomed the forum attendees to the first Community Pharmacy Stakeholder Forum. 

He gave an overview of the Government’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Access and Sustainability package of reforms noting that the package and the 6CPA are important elements in the Government’s broader reform of Australia’s health system. 

Andrew emphasised that the Government’s substantial investment through the increased funding available under the 6CPA recognises the significant contribution pharmacists and pharmacy have to make in the health care of all Australians.

Andrew thanked stakeholders for their interest in providing their views and input through this forum as the feedback will inform future decisions and policy over the course of the 6CPA and beyond.

Opening Address:  David Quilty, Executive Director, Pharmacy Guild of Australia 

David Quilty spoke of the funding increases to community pharmacy and anticipated savings to government resulting from 6CPA negotiations. He said there is early indication that the agreement is bearing fruit and described pharmacy transformation as one that is epitomised by the diversification of roles in the Primary Health Care Sector and the development of new and diversified income streams.

He spoke of the strong commitment of the Guild to working in partnership with government and with stakeholders and noted that community pharmacy is a key element of an integrated primary health care sector citing examples such as the upcoming Health Care Homes Trials, working with the Primary Health Networks and embedding the My Health Record into the day to day practice of pharmacies.

Probity Briefing 

The forum was provided with an overview of the Department’s probity plan related to the implementation of Access and Sustainability Initiatives and the Pharmacy Trial Program through the 6CPA. Stakeholders were advised of the administrative procedures to be followed throughout the forum Programme in order to ensure:

  • Integrity, transparency, accountability, confidentiality are maintained; and
  • Potential or actual conflict of interest issues are managed

The Department’s Probity Advisor was in attendance for the entire duration of the forum to ensure that proceedings complied with requirements of the probity plan.

Overview of 6CPA Implementation:  

Penny Shakespeare, First Assistant Secretary, Pharmaceutical Benefits Division, Department of Health

Topic 1: Assessment of Pharmacy Programs 

Presented by Professor Lloyd Sansom, Pharmaceutical Advisor, Department of Health 

Topic 2: Pharmacy Trial Program: Pharmacy Diabetes Screening Trial 

Presented by Professor Ines Krass, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney 

Topic 3: Pricing Matters 

Presented by Dianna Prosser, Director, Pharmaceutical Evaluation Branch, Department of Health 

The presentation provided a brief overview of some of the processes involved in PBS pricing to provide ‘conversation starters’ for table discussions.  Questions raised during table discussions were addressed during the plenary session.

The Department provides detailed information on PBS Pricing Matters

Topic 4: High Cost Medicines 

Presented by Julianne Quaine, Assistant Secretary, Pharmaceutical Access Branch, Department of Health 

A table discussion followed this presentation and questions were addressed during the plenary session.

Topic 5: Biosimilars 

Presented by Penny Shakespeare, First Assistant Secretary, Pharmaceutical Benefits Division, Department of Health

Future Events 

No Future events. 

Relevant Links

Contacts

The Department may be contacted regarding the CPSF via email.