PHARMACY owners and managers are being urged to speak to their landlords to ensure access to their stores will be maintained in the event of further restrictions being imposed by State, Territory and Federal Governments, as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.
Speaking at the Australian Pharmacy Professional (APP) Conference online last week, former Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Kos Sclavos, said there was a need to plan for a scenario where non-essential retailers are shutdown.
"It is important that we have the conversations with our landlords in terms of access," he said.
"We know from overseas where pharmacies have remained open and the supermarkets have remained open that is an issue.
"It is very important if, for instance, some shopping centres say 'we can't afford to keep the aircon running in the whole centre [while other tenants are closed]'.
"We need to hear those scenarios, because it would be quite embarrassing for them if a politician hears about that.
"Don't wait for two or three weeks time if things deteriorate [to talk to your landlord]."
Sclavos also warned that despite being on the frontline of efforts to support the community through the pandemic, international experience showed pharmacies located in shopping centres that were not close to a supermarket have been experiencing "really tough times".
He also urged owners and managers to engage with landlords in relation to updating their rental agreements as the retail industry faces a difficult future as a result of reduced retail spending and foot traffic.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 26 Mar 20
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