NEWCASTLE pharmacist Phil Dibbens is calling on his local Federal MP Sharon Claydon to intervene and persuade the government to rethink its 60-Day Dispensing policy.
The pharmacist from Scott-Dibben Chemist at Kotara, NSW, agrees with the Guild that residents can expect shorter trading hours, less services, worsening medicine shortages and closures of pharmacies under the new policy.
"This policy is going to seriously impact my patients in Newcastle," he said.
"Because of these changes, I'm going to have to look at the hours I keep my pharmacy open and the services I provide.
"The patients that this is going to affect the most are primarily older people, who are already struggling with the rising cost of living.
"How do I tell them that I'm going to have to start charging for services I currently offer for free?
"I don't want to be in a position of closing earlier and not being there for people when they need vital medicine and support.
"I'm asking Ms Claydon to step in and put patients first," Dibbens concluded.
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