Tele pharmacy—Enabling Technology to Provide Quality Pharmacy Services in Rural and Remote Communities

Abstract

Rural and isolated areas may benefit more from the National Strategy for the Quality Use of Medicines if they have access to high-
quality pharmacy services. The lack of pharmacists in remote places hinders the spread of this method. When compared to the United
Kingdom and the United States, Australia does poorly. The Commonwealth of Australia and the Pharmacy Guild have signed the
Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement, which outlines 13 shared goals and includes provisions for financing efforts for
professional pharmacy programs. Medication reviews and digital health programs are two examples. Delivering high-caliber
pharmaceutical services to remote places is made possible by telepharmacy, an innovative use of enabling technology. In certain
nations, telepharmacy is already in use. The states of Washington and North Dakota have implemented prominent telepharmacy
programs, but other states including Texas, Nebraska, and Alaska have done so as well. The outcomes of Australian research have
been inconsistent and less fruitful. However, telemedicine has made use of certain promising models, such as those used to pr ovide
physiotherapy and other allied health treatments. Involving pharmacists in telep harmacy services is critical, and a promising new
effort in Far North Queensland will soon focus on using telepharmacy to undertake home medication assessments.