Member for Calare Andrew Gee says changes to medicine prescriptions announced by the Australian Government will exacerbate drug shortages, force pharmacy owners to cut services, lay off staff or close their doors entirely, and may endanger the lives of vulnerable patients.
“The Federal Government needs to rethink its new 60-day prescription policy,” said Mr Gee.
“They are distressed that very vulnerable patients will now have access to double their usual supply of certain drugs. They believe that this could have tragic outcomes for some vulnerable members of the community.
“Our local pharmacists are also concerned that the new policy will create a medicine shortage crisis.”
“There are currently hundreds of drugs that are in very short supply that will be affected by this change. With people across Australia soon able to go to their pharmacy and receive double their usual prescription, immense pressure will be placed on already-stretched supply chains.
“Our pharmacists are concerned that while on the face of it the new policy looks okay and sounds positive, it’s really exposing vulnerable patients to harm, putting more pressure on our hardworking pharmacists, increasing drug shortages, and forcing people to go without their regular medications.”
“The problem for country pharmacies is that only a relatively small amount of their revenue comes from the retail side, as their businesses heavily rely on filling prescriptions. As a result, this change will have a devastating impact on the services that our local pharmacists provide.”
“Pharmacies will be forced to look at cutting staff, slashing the services they supply for free to aged care facilities, and axing home delivery services.
“For some smaller pharmacies, this policy change will threaten their very existence.
“I urge the government to rethink this,” Mr Gee said.