Illawarra Pharmacist Association president Katerina Novarina has welcomed the push by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia for pharmacies to provide enhanced services to offset spiralling Medicare costs.

Ms Novarina, of Navin’s Pharmacy, said the guild wanted to extend its services in areas including vaccinations, prescription repeats, post hospital care and the treatment of minor ailments.

The guild will take advantage of Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley’s commitment last week to consult with health professionals on Medicare reform.

It comes after the federal government backed down on a controversial GP tax, as well as reductions to some Medicare rebates which were to be introduced this week.

However Ms Ley has warned that the universal healthcare system must change if it is to be sustainable into the future.

Ms Novarina said: ‘‘Pharmacists are not a substitute for GPs but if we can provide enhanced services then in the long term we may be able to help alleviate the burden on GPs and the hospital system.

‘‘We’re one of the most trusted professions and many people already trust us to give advice for minor ailments and conditions.

‘‘We’ve also proven our ability in many areas such as enhanced medication support and long-term management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure.’’

Ms Novarina said the success of a recent flu vaccination pilot in Queensland showed how pharmacies could increase their role in healthcare.

‘‘Through collaborative arrangements with GPs we could provide vaccination programs and repeat prescriptions, and we could have a larger role in areas like post hospital care too,’’ she said.

‘‘Often when people come out of hospital there’s not enough co-ordination from hospital to the community. If we can play a supporting role and make sure people stick to the correct medication and doses, then it minimises the need for multiple GP visits or hospital readmissions.’’

The Pharmacy Guild’s national president George Tambassis said any reforms to Medicare must fully utilise the nation’s 5450 strong community pharmacy network.

‘‘In most cases opportunities to deliver these services more cost-effectively, including through the better use of technologies, have not been taken up, leading to increased costs for governments and patients – costs that can be reduced significantly by better utilising pharmacies and pharmacists,’’ he said.