Hygeia Health Strategies

Insight into a modern health system

Pharmacist, Health Strategist, Consultant, and Director Kos Sclavos AM has been at the forefront of the health industry and the pharmacy profession for nearly two decades, leading major initiatives and using his insight to assist in shaping government policy and implementing integral programs and strategies

Kos Sclavos AM

One of Australia’s Leading Health Professionals

Hygeia Health Strategies’ Kos Sclavos AM has succeeded as a strategic leader, health industry professional and political lobbyist for over two decades. Having implemented numerous cutting edge initiatives, Kos has left a legacy of improved health outcomes in successfully shaping the broader health landscape. Kos consults to the broader pharmaceutical sector.

Kos served as President of the Queensland Branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia for nine years before being elected to the role of National President in 2005. He was the seventh and youngest ever National President in the 85-year history of the Pharmacy Guild. Kos stepped down in September 2013. Kos completed a remarkable eight-year term, having been elected to the position on three occasions. He served as National President during a period of unprecedented change and development in the pharmacy sector.

Kos was recruited as a Senior Health Consultant at Sinapse in 2013. Sinapse is an Australian-based management, technology and systems integration company. It is in this role Kos has led the development and implementation of five remunerated professional pharmacy programs in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies. Under the PharmaPrograms banner these programs have been implemented in over 4,300 pharmacies bringing in millions of dollars in additional remuneration to community pharmacies.

In 2015 the Federal Minister for Health appointed Kos to the Pharmaceutical Services Federal Committee of Inquiry.

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2017, Kos was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to the pharmacy profession through a range of retail, advisory and executive roles, to education, and to community health.

Kos continues to serve on the Queensland Branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia as Vice-President and is the Chairman of the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference which provides continuing education to 6,000 delegates each year. Kos is the Convenor of the Guild’s second national conference Pharmacy Connect to be held in Sydney each September.

Services

Kos Sclavos AM, through Hygeia Health Strategies, provides a wide range of consulting services for stakeholders across the pharmacy, pharmaceutical and broader health system, including governments, eHealth and service providers, private health insurers, wholesalers, pharmacy groups and pharmaceutical companies.

Strategic Planning

Kos assists organisations with developing and executing strategies from start-to-finish, as well as the goals and initiatives that support them.

Previous Experience

Kos was responsible for developing and implementing the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s strategic road map, a status report of Australian Community Pharmacy as well as a practical plan for its future direction. The aptly named ‘road map’ provides a template to implement numerous other ideas in years to come as circumstances change.

Kos’s leadership was paramount to the continued success of the Guild companies – including GuildLink, Fred, Guild Group and Gold Cross – that employ over 700 staff and operate on a combined annual budget of $235 million.

Pharmacy Sector Engagement

Kos provides insight and assistance with the development of strategies for pharmacy, as well as outlining and developing frameworks and program implementation.

Previous Experience

During his time at The Pharmacy Guild of Australia Kos pioneered retail standards in pharmacy with the development of the Quality Care Pharmacy Program, now implemented in 90 per cent of Australia’s community pharmacies. Kos has been the driving force behind many pharmacy initiatives and programs requiring the successful engagement of the pharmacy sector.

Government Advocacy

Kos liaises with government officials across the federal, state and local political landscape, as well as public servants and advisers at all levels.

Previous Experience

Kos has demonstrated his authority as an advocate for pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sector, having maintained the Pharmacy Guild’s longstanding relationships with health decision-makers during his eight-year term.

Kos was responsible for negotiating the price disclosure system in 2007 with then Health Minister Tony Abbott, in addition to the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement in 2010 with then Health Minister Nicola Roxon. In 2011, The Power Index awarded Kos the title of Australia’s number one lobbyist.

eHealth

eHealth is transforming the health system. Kos works with organisations to develop sustainable competitive advantage and ensures policy makers are kept aware of each organisation’s role in this changing landscape.

Previous Experience

Kos has been the driving force for Pharmacy’s exciting new IT agenda, ensuring technological advancements that have assisted in securing a viable future for the pharmacy industry.

This agenda included world-first initiatives such as Project Stop, a platform so highly regarded that current affairs program Four Corners recommended it be used for effective real-time monitoring of controlled drugs.

Kos was also instrumental in the implementation of the electronic prescription exchange, eRx delivering over three million health records weekly. This led to development of MedView, allowing professionals to peruse all prescribed and dispensed medication history in one location. Now Federal Government owned, it is known as the National Prescription and Dispense Repository.

Kos has led the integration of pharmacy into key elements of the Medication Management Cycle with the implementation of MedsIndex, Mirixa and GuildCare which is now installed in over 3,200 pharmacies across Australia. This includes 5CPA and private programs such as MedsChecks, Clinical Interventions, MedScreen and INR Testing, facilitating optimum patient care.

Speaking Engagements

Kos uses his well-honed communication skills to deliver industry presentations, facilitate workshops and run senior management team education sessions.

Previous Experience

Kos is a seasoned professional speaker, having delivered hundreds of public presentations and engaged with a wide range of stakeholders through extension consultation work. He was the first Guild President to be invited to deliver live National Press Club addresses, raising the profile of pharmacy to an unprecedented level.

Over the past few decades, Kos has undertaken countless media interviews, ensuring community pharmacy was at the forefront when health issues arose and solutions were being sought.

Kos continues to deliver keynote addresses at conferences throughout the world including at the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference, which provides continuing education for 4,500 delegates.

Achievements

Symbicort® (Budesonide/Formoterol) Pharmacy Program

Amgen Pharmacy Partnership in Osteoporosis INTervention (APPOINT) Program

Brintellix_Patient_Program_Feb15 — Brintellix® Patient Program

The Medicinal Cannabis Medicines Portal (MCMP)

Osteoporosis Quality Use of Medicines Program

Teva DuoResp® Spiromax® New-to-Therapy Patient Program

Professional Gastro Intestinal Flora (GIF) Program

abbvie-pharmacy-prorgam — AbbVie Pharmacy Progam

ActNow_Program_Aug15 — ActNow Patient Pharmacy Program

1_5th_Agreement — Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement

Kos Sclavos - eHealth Project Stop — eHealth Initiatives

3_Lobbying — Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Advocacy

Kos Sclavos - Systemised Pharmacy IT — Systemised Pharmacy IT

7_Press_Club — National Press Club Address

Hon PhD Griffith_No_5 — Honorary Doctorate Griffith University

Saxenda Pharmacy Program

Testimonials

Hon John Howard OM AC, Prime Minister of Australia (1996-2007)

October 8, 2013

"I recall with affection our many dealings in the time that I was Prime Minister. You were a staunch advocate of the interests of the Guild’s membership, but equally mindful of what was reasonable to expect from any government. Successive Health Ministers – including our new Prime Minister – frequently spoke to me of the constructive manner of their engagement with the Guild. "You have given great leadership to the Guild, both in Queensland and nationally. I compliment and thank you for that. "

The Hon Peter Dutton, Minister for Health and Minister for Sport (2013-2014)

October 7, 2013

“You have always engaged professionally with governments and oppositions about issues that affect community pharmacy and the lives of the people who work in them. Many complex issues have been negotiated with both sides of politics under your leadership and you are widely respected in the corridors of Canberra. Community Pharmacy, an integral part our health system, has been very well served by your dedication over many years, especially your Presidency of the National Office and the Queensland Branch.”

The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister of Australia (2013-2015)

October 4, 2013

“Kos has served the Guild and its Queensland branch with distinction for many years. I pay tribute to his passion and long-standing commitment to enhancing the important role of pharmacists and community pharmacy in our society. “I have known Kos for many years and worked closely with him during my time as Health Minister. His contribution and tireless advocacy is respected by all. Kos was never a person who simply made demands of government. Rather, he would bring a proposed solution to a perceived problem, invariably a solution that involved people giving something in order to get something. “As Kos steps down as National President, I congratulate him on his many successful years at the helm of the Pharmacy Guild.”

David Quilty, Executive Director, Pharmacy Guild of Australia (2012- )

April 15, 2013

“I acknowledge the extraordinary contribution that Kos has made to community pharmacy in Australia. His passion and commitment is unparalleled and no one has done more over the last decade to secure the viability and drive the quality of Australia’s 5,200 community pharmacies.”

Dr Brendan Shaw, Chief Executive, Medicines Australia (2010-2014)

April 15, 2013

“Kos has made a tremendous contribution to the broader medicines sector. He has been a consistently passionate and committed advocate for community pharmacy and for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. His passion for pharmacy was obvious to anyone who came close to him, as was his commitment to the broader health of Australians.”

Kate Lynch, CEO, Generic Medicines Industry Association (2008-2014)

April 16, 2013

“Kos has delivered significant achievements over eight years of outstanding leadership.”

Dr Deon Schoombie, Executive Director, Australian Self-Medication Industry (2010- )

April 16, 2013

“Kos has been a progressive and influential leader and a strong driving force behind a number of industry initiatives aimed at improving the health of Australians.”

Terry White, Chairman, Terry White Group Limited

September 17, 2013

“The measure of anyone’s leadership is whether they have made a difference. As national president for the past eight years, he leaves the Guild in great shape and more importantly community pharmacy. Yes, Kos Sclavos certainly made a difference.”

David Quilty, Chief Executive, Pharmacy Guild of Australia (2012- )

November 1, 2013

“A visionary who has delivered real, bankable outcomes for community pharmacy. He leaves a lasting legacy in many areas, including dispensary remuneration, professional programs, e-health, and pharmacy standards and education”.

Grant Kardachi, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (2011-2015)

November 1, 2013

“Kos’s passion and commitment for the profession are legendary and he will long be remembered as the driver of many innovations and strategies which are now part and parcel of the community pharmacy scene. He has led the way for pharmacy in the healthcare sector in progressing the uptake of IT to support pharmacy practice. I have great respect for the work Kos has done for the profession and for community pharmacy in particular, and the ongoing viability of community pharmacy will owe a lot to his drive and unrelenting desire to get the best for pharmacists and for the community.”

Terry White, Chairman, Terry White Group Investments Ltd

November 1, 2013

“There are few who understand our industry to the depth that Kos does, and even fewer still who have been quite so proactive over the years.”

Contact

Hygeia Health Strategies Pty Ltd

ABN 40 265 730 144

132 Leichhardt Street

Spring Hill Qld 4000

Phone: +61 7 38313788

www.linkedin.com/in/kossclavos