Guild mobilises pharmacy
August 12, 2013
THE Pharmacy Guild has
circulated a petition to pharmacies
across the country, urging
pharmacists and pharmacy
assistants to “get involved now to
save your pharmacy”.
As part of the campaign,
pharmacy staff are being asked to
help collect as many signatures as
possible - with a target of at least
300 signatures per pharmacy.
Collateral has been developed
including logos, in-store posters and
even computer screensavers to alert
customers to the petition, which
formally requests the House of
Representatives to “take whatever
action is needed to ensure that
community pharmacy receives the
funding support it needs to stay in
business, serve patients, employ
staff and remain open after hours”.
The petition draws the
attention of customers to the
recent announcement by the
Federal Government, “without
consultation, to change the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
and reduce what is paid to
community pharmacy to dispense
medicines.
“This PBS change will ultimately
put at risk the viability of
community pharmacies across
Australia,” it warns.
The Guild has told pharmacy staff
that it needs to put pressure on the
government.
“Your business is at risk and
therefore so is the access your
patients and customers rely on
every day for their medicines, your
advice and quality service.
“Patients need to let the
Government and Opposition know
that this access, relationship,
service and advice is too precious
to lose,” the Guild said.
The Guild is particularly
highlighting the risk to the more
than 1000 pharmacies in rural and
regional areas, and the 411 towns
with just one pharmacy.
MEANWHILE the Pharmacy Guild
has taken the opportunity of the
current price disclosure campaign
to launch two “newly updated
and consolidated social media
channels”.
The Guild can be found at
facebook.com/Pharmacy-Guild-of-
Australia as well as on Twitter at
twitter.com/PharmGuildAus.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 12 Aug 13To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 12 Aug 13
