Pharmacy Daily | Survey confidential – King

PROFESSOR Stephen King, chair of the government's Review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation, has expressed concern about a Pharmacy Guild communication following the opening of expressions of interest from pharmacists wanting to participate in the Review Panel's financial survey (PD 05 Dec).

In an update issued yesterday, King said he was concerned to learn of a 'Guild Alert' sent to Guild members which suggested they should be "wary about participating in the survey until the Review Panel clarifies its purpose and how their financial data will be used".

King has responded on behalf of the panel, reiterating that all data collected will be de-identified and maintained in the strictest confidence, with neither the Review Panel nor the Department of Health having access to survey financial information provided by any individual pharmacy.

He said the Panel's objectives are to assist it to "build representative financial models of pharmacy in different locations across Australia.

"This will allow the Panel to understand the financial stresses on the sector and the relative importance of the PBS remuneration and location rules in maintaining the viability of different models of pharmacy," he wrote.

King said the survey, which has been based on the established format and content used to assemble the annual Guild Digest, would also "give the opportunity for ordinary pharmacy owners at the coalface to have their own pharmacy's data embedded in the models the Panel will be using to finalise our recommendations".

The Panel has also posted a text version of the online survey questions, to help pharmacists make an informed decision about whether to participate.

"Please don't miss this important opportunity to contribute to the review," he urged.

The full list of 43 questions in the survey can be accessed online at www.health.gov.au.