THE Federal Coalition's stance on 60-day dispensing remains "shrouded in mystery" according to the Australian Medical Association (AMA), which has today accused the opposition of "failing to be upfront with Australians by not revealing whether the Coalition supports cheaper medicines".
AMA President, Steve Robson, continued his attacks on pharmacy, saying resistance to the 60DD policy is an "irresponsible scare campaign orchestrated by those who are putting profits before patients".
"Patients have been waiting years for cheaper medicine, as this policy has effectively been on hold since the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee recommended it and the former Coalition government attempted to implement this recommendation in 2019," the AMA President said.
"Now is the time to finally get this done," he said, confirming he had written last month to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton urging him to clarify the Coalition's stance.
Robson also highlighted that the Greens were still to reveal their position publicly, saying "patients deserve clarity on whether next month is finally the time they can start saving time and money".
The AMA pressure on opposition parties comes in the face of a proposed "disallowance motion" in the Senate, which would provide a pause in the implementation of the policy and enable further consideration on its impact and unintended consequences.
The Pharmacy Guild has joined with patient groups and the Pharmaceutical Society in support of the Senate motion (PD yesterday) which, if approved, "will provide more time for the Government to consult and get this policy right," the Guild advised.
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