changes

You can still have your say and help your local community pharmacy. Learn more via the links below and get in contact to communicate what you think to your state Labor senators:

· Tim Ayres: (02) 9159 9330

· Jenny McAllister: (02) 9719 8100

· Deborah O'Neill: (02) 4367 4565

· Tony Sheldon: (02) 9719 1078

https://saveyourlocalpharmacy.com.au/home/

https://www.guild.org.au/news-events/news/2023/20,000-pharmacy-jobs-to-go-under-governments-medicine-policy-and-free-services-to-end

The way we help you is under threat; government defunding of Community Pharmacy will have other ramifications the politicians have not even considered.

With the lack of an economic impact study into how it will affect community pharmacies, specifically rural ones it has been left up to us to communicate this back to our current government.

We are not a pharmacy whose owners are rolling around in luxury vehicles, going home to their mansions; we have margins to achieve due to bank loans and business valuations. In the past we have endeavoured to keep things as affordable as possible, we have discounted hundreds of medications below PBS pricing. Despite our rural location we have kept up with metro pricing. This is under threat.

The entire Community Pharmacy sector have strongly advocated for many years for a lesser cost to access medications; 60 day dispensing will do this for a select few in the population. Not everyone will qualify, nor will it change the annual expense for our most vulnerable chronically ill patients. In-fact it is likely to increase their costs if we have to implement charges for Webster packing.

The reduction in government funding will have a HUGE impact on community pharmacy and will change what you consider as normal now.

The current government is cost shifting onto the consumer veiled behind 60 day dispensing.

What is at risk by defunding:

  1. Everyday items will increase in cost.
  2. Staffing levels; our great staff are not free. We will be unable to assist to the same level with less staff and wait times may increase.
  3. After hour services – we may have to close if we can’t cover expenses from specific shifts. This may be reduced opening hours or closing on weekends.
  4. Charged services – These will increase in cost, many were previously free:
  • delivery
  • webster packing
  • extended consultations, tick removal,  BP checking, wound care
  • statutory declarations, certifying documents
  • medical certificates
  • Vaccinations – government funding covers only 5 vaccines per pharmacy per week