The first professional program to be funded under the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement – the dose administration aids (DAA) program – is being launched today.
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia director Debbie Rigby said the DAA program was the result of a fruitful collaboration between the PSA, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Department of Health and Ageing.
“PSA was pleased to be a part of the development of this program which has great potential to benefit the health of the Australian community.
“It will be of particular benefit to some of the community’s most vulnerable members who are aged, cognitively impaired and on multiple medications or who are simply confused about taking their medications,” Ms Rigby said.
The DAA program aims to reduce medication-related hospitalisation and adverse events by improving medication management and adherence.
Pharmacists participating in the program will be assisted to provide DAAs to patients who would benefit from them.
To participate, pharmacists need to meet professional standards and the pharmacy must have the necessary infrastructure to provide the service.
Participating pharmacies will be eligible for incentive payments as a contribution for collecting evaluation data and for providing DAA services. Incentives of up to $8900 (+ GST) are in place to encourage early registration and full participation in the program.
A pharmacy readiness kit is available from the Guild website (
www.guild.org.au) under the professional pharmacy services section.