In a ground-breaking initiative aimed at enhancing the safety of medication use among the elderly population in Australia, the University of South Australia has embarked on a pioneering pilot study that seeks to revolutionize medication management within residential aged care homes. This national effort aligns with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and introduces the PHARMA-Care National Quality Framework, a comprehensive and structured approach designed to elevate pharmaceutical care standards in these settings.
The PHARMA-Care framework emerges as a critical innovation addressing the chronic challenge of medication-related issues prevalent in aged care facilities. Studies have shown alarmingly high rates of medication-related problems, with approximately 98% of residents experiencing at least one such issue. This includes the widespread prescription of potentially inappropriate medicines, which significantly contribute to adverse outcomes such as unplanned hospitalizations — accounting for 17% of such admissions. These figures underscore the urgent need for a systemic overhaul in the way medications are managed and monitored in aged care environments.
Central to the framework is its person-centered philosophy that prioritizes the unique needs and preferences of aged care residents. It establishes clear domains for evaluating medication use, allowing pharmacists and care teams to deliver consistent, high-quality care that not only enhances clinical outcomes but also improves quality of life. By focusing on transparency and equity, the PHARMA-Care framework ensures that all residents have fair access to pharmacist services, thereby bridging gaps that have previously compromised medication safety.
The development of this framework has been a collaborative feat, co-designed with 14 project partners encompassing governmental bodies, healthcare organizations, and academic institutions. This multisectoral partnership facilitates the integration of diverse expertise and perspectives, ensuring the framework’s robustness and practical relevance. Financially supported by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), this initiative symbolizes a strategic investment in evidence-based policymaking and capacity building in pharmaceutical care within aged care.
Associate Professor Janet Sluggett, Chief Investigator at the University of South Australia, highlights the increasing complexities faced by pharmacists as they care for an aging population characterized by frailty and intricate medical histories. The PHARMA-Care framework offers a much-needed structural backbone to the role of on-site pharmacists, enabling them to systematically evaluate and enhance the impact of their interventions. This methodological rigor supports clinical governance and fosters meaningful dialogues with healthcare teams, residents, and their families, positioning pharmacists as pivotal agents of medication safety.
The framework’s implementation promises to mitigate the risks associated with polypharmacy, a prevalent phenomenon where elderly patients are prescribed multiple medications that can interact adversely. By providing sophisticated tools to monitor medication regimens, identify harmful interactions, and ensure appropriate prescribing, the framework empowers pharmacists to optimize therapeutic outcomes. This proactive approach is anticipated to translate into reduced hospitalizations, fewer medication errors, and a marked improvement in the overall health trajectory of aged care residents.
Eldercare’s Operational Services Executive, Anne-Marie Gillard, hails the PHARMA-Care Project as a new national benchmark, bringing a transformative shift in the way medicines are managed. The initiative is expected to galvanize the aged care sector by equipping clinicians and pharmacists with the resources necessary to deliver exemplary, patient-centered care. This paradigm shift not only benefits the residents but also alleviates systemic pressures by enhancing the safety and efficiency of medication use.
The endorsement by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) further consolidates the framework’s credibility and reach. PSA president Associate Professor Fei Sim underscores the framework’s role in guiding credentialed pharmacists to improve medication use quality in residential aged care. Such professional backing is vital for widespread adoption, practical implementation, and sustainability of quality improvement initiatives within the pharmaceutical care domain.
Currently, the research team led by Senior Research Fellow Dr. Sara Javanparast is disseminating and testing the PHARMA-Care framework across Australia, actively soliciting participation from aged care providers and on-site pharmacists. This phase is crucial for gathering real-world data, refining quality indicators, and validating the framework’s efficacy in diverse care settings. The ultimate goal is to establish a national quality monitoring system that continuously enhances medication safety and effectiveness in aged care.
The PHARMA-Care framework represents a first-of-its-kind structured, evidence-based approach aligning with the government’s significant investment—$350 million under the Aged Care On-site Pharmacist Program—to embed pharmacists within aged care homes. It lays the foundation to systematically assess the outcomes of pharmacist-led interventions, creating a feedback loop that encourages ongoing improvements in clinical practice and resident well-being.
Given the complexities of polypharmacy, medication errors, and the frailty of aged care populations, this initiative is timely and essential. It embodies an evolution from reactive to proactive medication management, harnessing data analytics, clinical governance frameworks, and collaborative care models. This convergence of strategies is projected to deliver superior medication safety outcomes, enhanced communication among healthcare stakeholders, and ultimately, a higher quality of life for Australia’s older adults in residential care.
Pharmacists, aged care providers, and other stakeholders are invited to express interest and participate in the pilot study by contacting the project team directly. By joining this transformative journey, they contribute to shaping a safer, more responsive pharmaceutical care landscape that meets the demands of an aging population with dignity and clinical excellence.
Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Evaluation of the Aged Care On-site Pharmacist (ACOP) program in Australian residential aged care homes: Key considerations and next steps
News Publication Date: 14-Oct-2025
Web References:
– Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety: https://www.royalcommission.gov.au/aged-care
– PHARMA-Care National Quality Framework PDF: https://unisa.edu.au/contentassets/ac300bbd59844b3b85d8869b322baf8f/pharma-care-national-quality-framework.pdf
– Medical Research Future Fund: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/mrff
– 98% medication-related problem statistics: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-09/quality_use_of_medicines_and_medicines_safety_-_discussion_paper.pdf
– Polypharmacy risks: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/healthcare-variation/fourth-atlas-2021/medicines-use-older-people/61-polypharmacy-75-years-and-over
References:
– Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy (DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2025.10.006)
– British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (Quality indicators review)
– International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy (ACOP qualitative study)
Keywords: Pharmaceutical industry, Medications, Pharmacology, Drug dosage, Drug safety, Human health, Drug interactions
