Rural patients are disadvantaged compared to their urban counterparts in terms of their lack of access to healthcare services and in terms of higher disease burden. Models of care that work in metropolitan and large regional centres do not necessarily work in smaller more remote communities due to lack of economies of scale and higher healthcare needs. The Remote and Isolated Pharmacist Association Australia is working with government and other organisations to develop sustainable models of healthcare in the thin markets, outside major towns and centres. It is our mission to ensure that rural patients have equitable access to quality pharmacy care as part of the primary healthcare system in rural locations. We support locally embedded models of care that involve the pharmacist working as part of the healthcare team.
RIPAA is a reactivation of a previously existing rural organisation that advocated on behalf of rural pharmacists and was pivotal in achieving important financial supports that recognise the challenges and higher costs of providing pharmacy care in rural locations. Given the current state of rural health, RIPAA has been brought back to life for the purpose of ensuring that rural pharmacists, in the changing healthcare environment, can practice to top of scope for the benefit of rural communities and that rural pharmacy does not fall behind and is appropriately supported to deliver care alongside other rural health professions.