Pharmacy Daily | ‘Hard fought’ 7CPA to boost funding

PHARMACISTS are set to see a 9% increase in dispensing remuneration over the next five years under the Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement (7CPA) (PD breaking news).

While final figures around 7CPA funding have yet to be announced, the deal, signed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, George Tambassis, and Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, last night, is set to see dispensing remuneration increase to $7.74 per prescription from 01 Jul, with annual indexed fee increases to be implemented throughout the deal's five-year life.

Signed in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the summer's bushfire crisis, Tambassis, described the 7CPA as "an agreement for the times".

A number of sources close to negotiations have described the 7CPA as "hard fought", with Guild Vice President, Trent Twomey, calling it an "epic negotiation process".

"I am confident that the outcome is in the best interests of Australian patients and local community pharmacies," he said.

"The agreement we have arrived at contains a number of relevant reforms that will benefit patients for many years to come."

Speaking to Pharmacy Daily, 7CPA co-signatory Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) National President, Dr Chris Freeman, described the deal as "a step forward from the 6CPA".

"It delivers an increase in investment in areas where it is needed most," he said.

"In my mind that's predominantly for people who are living in rural, regional and remote areas, but also for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."

Freeman added the 7CPA has "flexibility built into it" to allow the Government and community pharmacy "to adapt to the changing health environment".

"I think pharmacists would appreciate how quickly that changes - almost overnight at the moment, with either different health policies or the health environment more broadly changing quite rapidly," he said.

"This is a five-year agreement so it needs the ability to adapt to these things."