MINISTER'S deafening silence on guarantee
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia says it is still waiting for a straight answer from the Albanese Government on whether any patient or pharmacy would be worse off after the 60-day dispensing changes come into effect.
The question was put to the Federal Health Minister Mark Butler by a journalist on the day he confirmed that 60-day dispensing would be introduced from 01 Sep this year, as part of the Budget.
When asked, Minister Butler didn't give an exact response saying, "We have deliberately decided to phase in these arrangements over the course of this year and next year so pharmacists are able to change their itinerary arrangements."
Pharmacy Guild National President, Professor Trent Twomey said the Health Minister's refusal to guarantee patients would receive the medicine they needed or that pharmacies wouldn't close was worrying.
"I want the Federal Government to guarantee millions of Australians won't go without the medicines to treat high cholesterol, diabetes, depression, and anxiety, because of shortages that this policy will deliver," Professor Twomey said.
He also said about the double dispensing measure that, "Double of nothing is still nothing."
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