Guild, PSA unite against cuts
August 6, 2013
The Pharmacy Guild and the
Pharmaceutical Society have raised
the stakes in their reaction to last
Friday’s government economic
statement, issuing an open letter
urging the entire community
pharmacy sector to make its voice
heard over the issue.
The letter, which has been
included as the last page of today’s
issue of Pharmacy Daily, warns that
the surprise measures accelerating
PBS price disclosure announced
by treasurer Chris Bowen “will
jeopardise the livelihoods of
hundreds of pharmacies and could
cost thousands of jobs”.
The Guild and the PSA slammed
the lack of consultation over the
changes, which came despite a
clause in the Fifth Community
Pharmacy Agreement which
requires the Commonwealth to
consult in good faith on any budget
initiative which has a “significant
and sustained impact on the
viability of community pharmacy”.
An analysis of the changes (PD
yesterday) has estimated that the
new price disclosure regime will
cost at least $32,000 per pharmacy
in 2014-15 alone, on top of $56,000
per pharmacy from the existing
price disclosure arrangements.
The PSA and the Guild are
seeking urgent commitments from
both sides of politics to increase
pharmacy remuneration in 2014-15.
“If this problem is not addressed,
the impact on pharmacy owners,
their hard-working staff, and
patients could be devastating.
“The Guild and the PSA,
which together represent the
overwhelming majority of
pharmacists in Australia, call on
everyone who values community
pharmacy to tell our politicians that
they must fix this looming crisis,”
the letter warns.
Now that the election has been
called for 07 September, industry
stakeholders are being urged to
make their voice heard.
“Write, ring, text, email, speak
to and meet your local politicians
and candidates,” the letter urges,
adding “the future of community
pharmacy is in your hands”.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 06 Aug 13To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 06 Aug 13
