Community pharmacists are growing increasingly concerned at the changes made by the Albanese Government to 60-day dispensing and pharmacy funding.
Federal Member for Groom, Garth Hamilton said he has spoken at length with many local pharmacists, and he holds grave concerns for the viability of community pharmacy.
“What this government is doing is cutting on average $150,000 from every pharmacy across Groom.
“This means pharmacies will need to make decisions about what services they offer, what services they charge customers for, staffing and opening hours.
“The impacts of this policy will be widely felt, particularly in the small towns and communities such as Oakey, Goombungee, Kingsthorpe and Cambooya where the pharmacy is not large enough to sustain significant changes to their business model, but provides a critical service,” Mr Hamilton said.
Community pharmacies across the country have sounded the alarm at the changes, which threaten the viability of pharmacies and the services they offer.
Nathan Jervis, the owner of the Oakey Pharmacy, said the impact of this change would be a direct bottom-line cost of $283,000.
“Not only would this change made by Labor impact the service our pharmacy can provide to the local community, including free deliveries and cheap provision of Webster-paks, it reduces our ability to support the local sports clubs and community organisations in the town of Oakey.
“Oakey pharmacy is a family run business that plays a crucial role in the community, and the impacts of this decision will be broadly felt.
“We call on Prime Minister Albanese and Minister Butler to stop this ill-thought-out policy before it is too late,” Mr Jarvis said.
The changes will come at a time when 400 critical medicines are in shortage.
“Labor do not understand the consequences of its actions. This is an example of poor policy, designed on the run.
“The government is shifting the costs of medicines to pharmacists and in return Labor have cut funding for services such as webster paks, blood pressure checks, free medicine deliveries and more,” Mr Hamilton said.
Ends.
Media Contact: Greta Dwan 0414 211 908
