The Albanese Labor Government today refused to guarantee that patients or pharmacies won’t be worse off under their new 60-day medicine policy.
According to the World Pharmacy Council economist, the policy will cut $3.5 billion in patient care to communities around Australia over the next four years.
National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Trent Twomey said the Health Minister’s refusal to guarantee patients would receive the medicine they needed or that pharmacies wouldn’t close was worrying.
“This is a $3.5 billion cut to patient care across every single community in Australia and that should worry patients.”
“This cut to patient care will mean aged care services are reduced and elderly patients may go without medicine.
“This cut will mean parents wanting access to late night medicines for their kids will miss out because pharmacies will be forced to scale back their opening hours.
“This cut will put more pressure on emergency departments because people will need to go somewhere when their pharmacy is closed.
“I want the Federal Government to guarantee millions of Australians won’t go without the medicines to treat high cholesterol, diabetes, depression, and anxiety, because of shortages that this policy will deliver.
“Double of nothing is still nothing.”
Mr Twomey welcomed the Health Minister’s commitment to reinvest the money cut back into community pharmacies.
“We will be holding the Minister to his word that every cent is invested back into dispending medicine in community pharmacies and supporting our patients.”
When a similar policy was introduced in the United Kingdom 1,100 pharmacies shut and when it was introduced in New Zealand more than 70 pharmacies closed.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is still yet to be briefed on this policy by the Federal Government or the Department of Health.
This is a $3.5 billion cut to patient care across every single community in Australia and that should worry patients.
Professor Trent Twomey – National President, Pharmacy Guild of Australia
We will be holding the Minister to his word that every cent is invested back into dispending medicine in community pharmacies and supporting our patients.
Professor Trent Twomey – National President, Pharmacy Guild of Australia
