Pharmacy Daily | Pharmacists more exposed than most

COVID-19 infection rates amongst Victorian pharmacists highlight the need for the implementation of paid pandemic leave, Professional Pharmacists Australia (PPA) President, Dr Geoff March, believes.

With the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reporting that 65 pharmacists in the State had returned positive tests for the virus as of 08 Sep (PD 10 Sep), March said frontline workers were particularly at-risk, despite assertions from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia that hygiene requirements and the brevity of patient contact meant pharmacists face a lower level of infection risk than other retail workers (PD 10 Jul).

"The latest data from Victoria shows how vulnerable pharmacy employees are to contracting COVID-19 and demonstrates how important paid pandemic leave is in supporting workers who've been infected or are awaiting test results to stay at home," March said.

"Paid pandemic leave is a key weapon in our fight against COVID-19.

"Clearly frontline COVID workers like pharmacists should have access to paid pandemic leave as they are the ones toughing it out every day like nurses and doctors, often much more exposed than the rest of us."

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Victorian Branch President, John Jackson, also voiced support for the implementation of paid pandemic leave to support pharmacy workers with confirmed or suspected cases of the virus.

"Any arrangements that are put in place for paid pandemic leave for health professionals of course should include pharmacists," he said.

"[The] PSA always knew and has stated previously that frontline health professionals including pharmacists have been at significant risk of contracting COVID-19 and this has been borne out in the data in Victoria.

"There's no doubt that pharmacists like other health professionals and groups have had issues in accessing personal protective equipment, and we commend the work that is being done to look at system improvements in protecting healthcare professionals."

The Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Business Council of Australia have issued a joint statement calling on the Federal Government to introduce a paid pandemic leave scheme.