The decision to end the concessional access program for Rapid Antigen Tests is disappointing and confusing at a time when testing and identifying for COVID-19 is essential to help manage the current wave of infections, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia says.
Acting National President of the Guild, Nick Panayiaris, said the decision to wind the scheme up at the end of the month flies in the face of the growing number of cases of COVID-19 being reported across Australia.
“The Government has been proactive in increasing the eligibility for booster shots as well as making antiviral medicines more accessible,” Mr Panayiaris said.
“However, to end the concessional RATs scheme seems at odds with everything else being done at the moment,
“With cases surging we need every means available to help the most vulnerable in our community manage the impact of the virus to keep them as safe as possible.
“If the scheme is removed it will add pressure to government testing hubs and also potentially add to delays in accessing antivirals – delays that could see patients unable to get these medications within the required five days of the first symptoms appearing.,
“The value of the scheme can be seen in the fact that community pharmacies have delivered more than 58 million RATS to 5.6 million patients.:”
Under the concessional scheme those eligible for the tests include people holing:
- Pensioner Concession card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Care card
- Health Care Card (including Low Income Health Care card
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold, White or Orange cards.
“The use of RATs to help identify people who may have COVID-19 is critical and to reduce or remove access for such a large group of people can only add to the problems being encountered.
“With the upsurge in cases, combined with winter ailments such as the flu and colds, it is important for people to be able to use the tests to quickly identify if they possibly have COVID-19, and if they do, to immediately take appropriate action.
“We would ask the Government to reconsider this decision.
“It is a backward step at this time and one which undoubtedly will have long-term negative effects in our ongoing fight to manage the virus.”
