Fears for pharmacies over new medication policy

PHARMACISTS across Australia and locally are united in their campaign against Federal Government plans to issue double the quantity of medicine per script, arguing it will be disastrous for the industry and customers, outweighing any cost savings people receive on their medication.

Concerns have been raised that the move, which the government argues will save people money on medication, will threaten patient health, jeopardise already strained medicine supplies, and lead to reduced services, job losses and pharmacy closures.

Ailu Liu, owner of Terry White Chemmart in Leongatha, said pharmacies are paid a set fee per script and will be severely impacted financially if 60-day dispensing is introduced.

The current system of 30-day dispensing ensures income needed to offer additional services such as vaccinations, health checks, and weight management programs is available, she explained.

While income would reduce, business expenses still need to be met, including electricity and rental costs, with significantly cutting staff numbers considered a certainty.

Ailu said a minimum of two pharmacists must be rostered on at the same time to run a vaccination service, and that is likely not to be viable with the income loss that would result from the drastic change to dispensing policy.

“A significant amount of money will be stripped, which is used to subsidise our opening hours, staffing needs and services which we provide for free to all our locals,” Ailu said.

She outlined a number of services provided to the community for free, including deliveries, Dose Administration Aids, blood pressure checks and Statutory Declarations, with many services benefiting older members of the population including those in Aged Care.

"There is already insufficient funding in Aged Care, and we have been trying our best to help; however, this decision will not allow us to continue our free service of looking after your loved ones," Ailu said.

She fears some rural communities will lose their pharmacies.

Ailu elaborated on the challenges pharmacies will face in their efforts to ensure people receive important medicines, many of which are already severely restricted in their availability.

Ailu said over 400 medications are in short supply, adding that one patient recently drove three hours to have a script filled.

Dispensary technician Emma Smith, who works for Ailu, elaborated on what the proposed new policy would mean for supplies of many vital medications.

“We’re struggling to give one out and they’re asking us to give two,” Emma said.

She also expressed concerns about people having large stockpiles of medicine, arguing it presents a greater risk of confusion and potential overdose.

Emma prepares medication packs for customers to help them know what to take when.

“Dose Administration Aids will no longer be available free as it will be unfeasible to provide such service under this change,” Ailu said.

As people often require changes to the type of medication they are on, pharmacists are worried about wastage caused by issuing double quantity and the fact the excess medicine will need to be disposed of.

Ailu noted that as well as wasting medication and straining supplies, taxpayers will be footing the bill for medicine that in many cases won’t be used.

The Australian Government says 60-day scripts will be available for 325 medications in total, including ones for chronic conditions such as heart disease, with approximately the first 100 available from September this year.

It forecasts per person cost savings of up to $180 a year for each medicine, while predicting concession card holders will be $43.80 better off annually for each medicine.

Despite giving patients two months of medicine for the price of one, the government expects to save money from the measure through fewer GP visits and lower pharmacy subsidies.

National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Professor Trent Twomey, said millions of patients would be worse off because the government’s plan guaranteed medicine shortages across the country.

“If the Federal Government proceeds with this proposal, everyday prescription medicine will be put into severe shortages lasting months, not days or weeks,” he declared.

He expects those severe shortages to hit medication used to treat cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease, along with many other conditions.

Rural Pharmacy Australia has also hit out at the Federal Government’s proposed 60-day dispensing policy, supporting the Pharmacy Guild of Australia in its fight against that eventuality.

“It will be the demise for many rural pharmacies Australia wide and impact on the professional services and advice provided by pharmacists,” Nathalka Sakalo, founder of Rural Pharmacy Australia said.