CUSTOMERS who threaten or abuse pharmacy staff could face up to 15 years behind bars under new legislation enacted in South Australia.
The COVID-19 Emergency Response (Further Measures) (No 2) Amendment Bill, was introduced to the State Parliament on Tue by SA Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade.
The amendments will provide pharmacists and pharmacy staff with the same protections as other frontline workers under the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935.
"The Bill focuses on building on the strong contribution that pharmacists, general practitioners and other health professionals have made to the pandemic response thus far and supporting their contribution to the ongoing response," Wade said.
"This change is particularly relevant for pharmacists and those performing duties in a pharmacy where they may be required to limit dispensing and sales of certain prescription and over-the-counter medicines in response to increased demand due to COVID-19."
The Bill also amends the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (South Australia) Act 2010, to provide the Pharmacy Regulation Authority SA with the power to authorise certain pharmacy premises to operate without a pharmacist physically in the store, provided a pharmacist can communicate with patients through video or audio links.
The amendments have been welcomed by professional bodies in the State, with Pharmacy Guild of Australia SA Branch President, Nick Panayiaris saying "the idea that pharmacy staff would be abused or assaulted while doing their work is absolutely abhorrent... this amendment gives notice to all in the community to respect the safety and rights of people working in pharmacies".
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia SA Branch President, Robyn Johns, described the penalty for abusing pharmacy staff as the toughest in the country.
"We now have extremely strong protection for all pharmacists and pharmacy teams in South Australia and I am grateful for the Health Minister's support for this amendment," she said.
"Pharmacists and pharmacy staff have been among those frontline health workers who have at times been abused by members of the public during the COVID-19 pandemic and this sort of behaviour is not okay."
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