10% to drop 1 trading day
April 28, 2014
THE Pharmacy Guild of Australia
has released a survey which
showed that one in 10 pharmacies
would drop at least one trading day
per week.
The ‘Pharmacy Services
Expectations Report’ was
conducted in April online and had
responses from 548 pharmacies
from all states and territories in
Australia, the Guild said.
The survey also found that one
in four pharmacies would reduce
hours, by an average of 5.4 hours
per week, which the Guild said
was due to lower remuneration
from the Pharmaceutical Benefits
Scheme (PBS), due to price
disclosure.
More than 40% of surveyed
pharmacies, or 200, said they were
planning to discontinue their home
delivery service, with 33% saying
they would increase the cost of this
service to patients; the Guild said
this service was currently offered
by more than 4,000 pharmacies.
Dose administration aids, offered
by 94% of pharmacies, would also
see an increase in the cost of the
service according to around 60% of
respondents, the Guild said.
“This survey confirms that the
funding crisis facing community
pharmacies will mean a significant
number of vulnerable patients face
reduced access to the services they
rely upon, and an increase in their
costs making it less affordable to
remain living independently in their
home.”
To read the report, CLICK HERE.
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