A new report by the Commonwealth Bank and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has revealed a bleak outlook from pharmacists because of the Albanese Government’s introduction of 60-day dispensing.
The ‘Commbank Pharmacy Insights Report 2023’ shows an overwhelming number of pharmacists will be charging for what were previously free services, cutting staff, trading hours, and believe the value of their pharmacy will fall over the next three years.
Among the disturbing figures the report reveals:
- 79% are reviewing free services by charging for them instead.
- 62% are looking to reduce the number of pharmacy assistants.
- 48% are considering reducing the hours they are open.
- 66% expect the value of their pharmacy to decline over the next three years.
The report also contains a ‘UTS Community Pharmacy Barometer’ which rates the outlook of certainty of pharmacists and has revealed that certainty has plunged by more than half from 146.8 points last November to just 60.8 points in May this year, a month after the government announced 60-day dispensing.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President Professor Trent Twomey says the Commonwealth Bank UTS Report supports the Guild’s repeated warnings that 60-day dispensing in its current form will leave both patients and their local community pharmacies worse off.
”This independent report confirms that patients will now be forced to pay for free pharmacy services under the Albanese Government’s 60-day dispensing policy,” Professor Twomey said.
”For months we have been sounding the alarm on behalf of patients and pharmacists and unfortunately this Commonwealth Bank report has again confirmed our fears.”
The report follows a survey by the Guild of 1,000 pharmacists which showed 23% have already changed their trading hours and 250 jobs have been lost as a result of the current implementation of 60-day dispensing.
Among the free services under review are blood pressure monitoring, dose administration aids such as webster packs for aged care facilities and home delivery of medicines.
”The Prime Minister and the Health Minister can no longer ignore the concerns of 6,000 community pharmacies and the many unintended consequences of 60-day dispensing.”
Professor Twomey referred to Health Minister Mark Butler’s comments to Parliament in June when he said,
”We want a viable community pharmacy sector.” – Mark Butler, Health & Aged Care Minister, House of Representatives, 14 June 2023.
”Patients, aged care residents and pharmacists will suffer because the Government is refusing to genuinely engage and fix these problems.”
He said the Guild is not opposed to 60-day dispensing but wants to work with the government, so it is introduced without damaging patient services and threatening the viability of community pharmacies.
”All pharmacists want cheaper medicine for their patients and we are ready, willing and able to sit down with the Government and make sensible adjustments to the policy so patients, aged care residents and pharmacists aren’t negatively impacted.”
