THE long-awaited interim report from the Review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation has been lodged with Health Minister Greg Hunt, with the Health Department last night telling PD it will be released publicly this financial year.
However some details have leaked, with review chair Stephen King saying options put forward are based on the premise that pharmacists are "agents of government ensuring the safe dispensing of medicine," according to a report in pharmaceutical industry newsletter Pharma in Focus.
King was quoted as saying he believes the profession will welcome the review's approach but "it has implications...agents by their very nature have certain requirements, for accountability for example, and they are covered in our report.
"Our report very much focuses in that direction and the options we put forward are very much along those lines and that's what makes it somewhat different," he said.
The interim report was due to be handed down about three months ago but was delayed due to the serious illness of one of the panel members (PD 06 Mar).
King also declined a planned appearance at APP2017 where Guild President George Tambassis blasted King's "major mistakes...bad choices [and] serious preconceived ideas" (PD 10 Mar).
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 19 May 17
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