24/04/2023
Hi everyone. I wanted to say a few words about an issue we have in the pharmacy world at the moment. Itβs a raw video, unscripted, showing me rambling about the impact this proposed change will have on your community and community pharmacy and community pharmacist(s). Thanks to my daughter Evelyn for sitting through my rambling. My family is why I work so hard for you all. I want to give them the best opportunities I can in this great part of the world - Launceston Tasmania!
Allegedly the Albanese Government is going to push in the budget (set to be announced 9 May) for a change to how pharmacies supply medication - from 30 day supply to 60 day supply for 304 medications.
It is alleged that the pharmacy will be paid the same fee once for doing so. It is unknown at this time if you will pay the same amount for one supply or two supplies. But the cuts to the bottom line of the pharmacy are real, and significant.
There is a great deal of speculation around this issue. My rambling in the video is to aim to allow to get the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and The Pharmacy Guild National President - Trent Twomey a seat at the table to discuss the changes this will have to the Australian Public - prior to budget night. These changes may mean changes to our pharmacy opening hours, staff cuts, not being able to offer free home delivery or to Residential Aged Care Facilities, changes to how we charge patients for vaccinations, dose administration aids (eg WebsterPaks), blood pressure monitoring (currently free), set prices for over the counter medicines, or even the ability to talk to your pharmacist for free in the pharmacy or over the phone.
I get some people may like to get 60 days of your medicines at a time for the convenience sake, but medicines are not simple commodities that can be distributed in such a manner - there are issues with storage, risk of overdose (intentional or not), wastage if you stop the medicine or change the dose, let alone the current issues with the supply chain meaning that some people can get 60 days whilst others then may have to go without.
If you watch the video, thank you. I hate videoing myself, and am certainly not a vlogger or anything like that! But I really want to convey how this issue is keeping me up at night!
Cheers.
David Peachey.
Your community pharmacist!
Senator Anne Urquhart
Senator Carol Brown
Senator Catryna Bilyk
Senator Helen Polley
Mark Butler MP
Anthony Albanese