PHARMACIST-TURNED Federal MP, Emma McBride, is calling for an increase in remuneration for pharmacists who administer COVID-19 vaccines (COVAX).
Speaking earlier this week, McBride said she was pleased to see the Federal Government commit $200 million to support the rollout of COVAX through community pharmacies (PD 01 Feb).
"While this is very welcome and I'm really pleased to see it, industry representative bodies have noted the clear recommendation from the King Review that indicated the need to ensure adequate funding for services that pharmacists provide outside PBS expenditure," she said.
"Pharmacists, like general practitioners and other medical professionals, are required to adhere to the strict protocols to administer the vaccine to the community.
"GPs are concerned around the level of remuneration, and, intuitively, pharmacists are concerned as well, particularly given that they must adhere to the same criteria and, as it stands currently, for less remuneration."
Under a funding model agreed upon by the Federal Government and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, pharmacies based in metropolitan areas will be eligible for payments of $16 for the initial dose, and $26 if they also administer the second dose, while pharmacies in zones classified as a Modified Monash Model two (MMM2) or higher, will receive $19 for the first dose and $29 for the second.
Meanwhile GPs in MMM1 locations will receive $55 for administering two doses of the vaccines to patients, with those in MMM2-7 zones earning $64.90, with all practices eligible to claim an additional $10 Practice Incentive Payment.
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