Tasmania is the only state to apply a top-up payment to ensure that community pharmacies remain viable when offering opioid replacement therapy, said the Guild Tas branch President, Helen O’Byrne. “Our State Government has acknowledged the efficient and professional service provided by community pharmacies across the state, with accessible opening hours and convenient locations,” shared O’Byrne. “We are grateful that the Government also understands that the pharmacy infrastructure which supports patient care, including the professional role of the pharmacist needs to be appropriately compensated for, to ensure the continued provision of this important healthcare service.” O’Byrne also thanked the Tasmanian Health Department for working closely with community pharmacies to deliver a new injectable long-acting opiate replacement therapy program. This program she added will provide suitable patients with enhanced quality of life, convenience and normality as the therapy is injected and releases slowly over 30 days. Pharmacists with previous experience in vaccination and opioid replacement therapy can now undertake a free Health Department-approved online training course to administer the therapy on supply of a valid prescription. “It’s great to see community pharmacists’ skills utilised in this way, and importantly it also means the patient doesn’t have to organise another appointment with their treating GP,” explained O’Byrne. “Feedback from pharmacists who have completed the training and who have been able to administer the therapy is that this service has been extremely positive for patients and professionally rewarding for the pharmacist.” Earlier in the year the Government changed state-based opiate replacement schemes, with community pharmacies now able to deliver Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Benefits Schemefunded opioid dependency therapies. O’Byrne said that because of differences in the State and Commonwealth funding many Tas pharmacy owners had concerns regarding the cost implications of continuing to service patients under the new arrangements with some owners reconsidering their ongoing participation in delivering the therapy.