Palliative care medications available in pharmacies from today
Core palliative care medications will be available at 30 pharmacies around the state to provide better access for people with life-limiting illnesses.
Palliative care patients will no longer have to visit hospitals every time they need certain medications. Photo: Shutterstock
Select pharmacies across the state will today begin stocking core palliative care medications, with 30 pharmacies included in the new Palliative Care Medicines Pharmacy Network.
Pharmacies stocking the medications will be required to keep a minimum stock of specific palliative care medications.
The medications often expire relatively quickly in comparison to other medications, which has been an additional barrier to their accessibility in the past.
Health Minister Chris Picton said the network of pharmacies means palliative care patients will not have to visit emergency departments to access medication.
“We are making it easier for South Australians in palliative care…to maintain the best quality of life and comfort they can while in their home surroundings,” he said.
Chief Pharmacist Naomi Burgess said the network would provide “certainty and support for patients and their families and carers”.
The government is providing $250,000 over four years to the initiative.
The 30 pharmacies are spread around the state including Berri, Ceduna, Hahndorf, Kangaroo Island, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge, Naracoorte, Normanville, Nurioopta, Port Lincoln and Victor Harbor.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia was commissioned by the Malinauskas government to manage the Palliative Care Medicines Pharmacy Network.
The announcement comes after the government’s Palliative Care Connect service, which was launched earlier this week.
