Dispensing changes would be devastating: Pharmacist

Plans by the federal government to introduce changes to the dispensing of medication would be devastating for community pharmacies, says Narrabri pharmacist and business owner Catherine McDonald.

The changes would come into effect in the new financial year and would mean people can obtain twice as much medication for the price of one prescription.

A supply of medication would last two months instead of one.

In addition to concerns about the impact of effectively reducing income generated from dispensing medicines, pharmacists and leading pharmacy bodies have flagged supply issues as a problem with 60-day dispensing.

Ms McDonald, who operates Maitland Street pharmacy CAMstart, warned the changes could result in some communities having reduced access to pharmacies as those that survive could be forced to reduce their operating hours.

“So If you don’t have your pharmacy to go to where will you go?,” Ms McDonald said.

“You can’t go to your local GP as they are already overworked and in short supply.

“This means you will end up at the emergency room at your local hospital where you no doubt will wait for hours.

“It is already well documented in the media this health sector is in crisis and is struggling with nurses being in short supply and overworked with many doing double and triple shifts on a regular basis.

“So by all means, the Labor government will put more workload on these nurses until they burn out.

“Where will the community turn then?”

Ms McDonald is also concerned pharmacy will be forced to dramatically reduce or in some cases stop the services they offer such as deliveries, blood pressure checks, blood sugar testing, vaccinations, sleep apnoea assessments and medicine reviews.

“This will result in patients having poorer health outcomes which ultimately means more GP specialist visits or hospitalisation,” she said.

In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration has 399 medications on the shortage list and 74 more on the watch list.

Of the 300 medications proposed to have 60-day dispensing, between 17 to 37 per cent of them appear on this list already.

Ms McDonald said the items on this list aren’t obscure medications but common antibiotics, blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and stroke prevention medications.

“This is only going to get worse as manufacturers file for exemptions as they won’t reach the target set by the government to have 60 per cent supply on hand of their yearly usage come July 1.”

Ms McDonald started her local pharmacy while in her 20s and has enjoyed seeing her business grow while supporting the needs of the community.

“I’m truly devastated that the pharmacy I have poured my heart and soul into for the last 23 years could be decimated if the Labor government gets its way,” she said.

“The Labor government has absolutely no concept of what 60-day dispensing means to our patients’ wellbeing.

“For this reason I urge each and everyone to contact any Labor government member and encourage them to have a discussion.

“Pharmacy is trying really hard to find a middle ground so that we can continue to provide and offer our services while also wanting to make sure that medicine delivery in Australia is sustainable and ensure the best possible health outcomes for you the Australian public.”

Earlier this week, the nation’s peak pharmacy body, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, said a poll of 2500 voters across Australia had shown eight in 10 people rejected changes to the dispensing of medications.

National president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Professor Trent Twomey said millions of patients would be worse off because the proposal 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.

“I am very concerned for Australian patients and big shortages will hit common medicines that treat cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease to name just a few.

“The research is crystal clear, Australians do not support a policy if it means pharmacy shelves are bare and patients miss out on vital medicine that they need. We are calling on the federal government to reconsider.”

While pharmacists and leading pharmacy officials have voiced concern with the changes, the move to 60-day dispensing has been welcomed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

RACGP president Dr Nicole Higgins described the change as a win for patients.

“Cost of living pressures are placing tremendous strain on households across Australia, so there has never been a more important time to save patients money and time,” Dr Higgins said.

“Patients with a range of chronic conditions including heart disease will be able to save up to $180 a year and that will make a huge difference for so many households.”

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the cheaper medicines policy is safe, good for Australians’ hip pockets and most importantly good for their health.

“Australian pharmacies already do much more than just dispense medicine and the government is supporting our trusted pharmacists to play an even bigger role in the healthcare of Australians,” Mr Butler said.

Ms McDonald said the Labor government justifies the reasoning for the change as a way to ease the cost of living but in actual fact all the federal government is doing is saving cents on one hand while losing millions of dollars on the other hand by moving the cost from the government onto the public.

“Ultimately pharmacy will bear the brunt of these supposed savings plus you as a patient,” she said.

“Australians shouldn’t have to choose between medicines and other essential items.”