PPA: Wages stagnating
April 1, 2014
Professional Pharmacists
Australia (PPA) has said this year
is a “one in 20 year opportunity”
to reshape community pharmacy,
in light of a survey showing that
average hourly base pay rates have
risen 23 cents per hour since 2009.
The survey of more than 2,672
pharmacists, conducted in print in
November last year and funded by
the PPA, reported average hourly
base rates for pharmacists had
risen from $34.38 in 2011 to $34.86
in 2013, the PPA said.
The rates for experienced
pharmacists dropped 30 cents to
$47.78 in 2013, pharmacist-incharge
rates grew by 22 cents to
$38.24 and pharmacist manager
rates grew by $3.56 to $41.15, it
said.
One in five, or 21.5% of
community pharmacists reported
that they had not received a pay
rise in four or more years, and PPA
president Dr Geoff March said it
was concerning that the average
community pharmacist was earning
the same as they did five years ago.
“Falling wages and poor
conditions make it very difficult
to attract and retain community
pharmacists and that presents real
problems for patient healthcare.”
March said this year was a
unique opportunity in that the
negotiation of the next Community
Pharmacy Agreement (CPA) and
the Fair Work Commission’s review
of the Pharmacy Industry Award
would occur, which the PPA saw
as opportunities for community
pharmacists to inform decision
makers about what they needed.
This was the year for community
pharmacists to stand up and be
heard, the PPA said.
“We will be advocating actively
and loudly for the ideas and needs
of community pharmacists to
Government and throughout the
community.”
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
said the ability to remunerate
pharmacists was directly related to
the viability of the small businesses
in which they worked.
“While the majority of pharmacy
owners pay over the award,
these businesses are under
increasing pressure from price
disclosure and rising costs making
it harder to increase pharmacists’
remuneration.”
There was a gap between hospital
and community pharmacy, with
almost 90% of hospital pharmacists
reporting having received a pay rise
in the last two years, compared
with 55.4% of community
pharmacists, the PPA said.
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