DISPARITIES in the rates of remuneration that pharmacists and GPs will receive for administering COVID-19 vaccines (COVAX) is disappointing, Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, George Tambassis, believes.
Speaking during a webinar focused on the national COVAX rollout, Tambassis noted that the Government had previously advised the Guild "that all vaccinators would be remunerated at the same rate".
Under the national rollout strategy pharmacists who have completed the appropriate training and working in pharmacies that have been approved by the Pharmacy Programs Administrator, will be eligible for payments of $42 or $48 per patient - depending on the location of the store and the patient receiving both doses of the vaccine in the same pharmacy.
However, GPs will be paid between $55 and $64.90 for administering the two doses to patients, while also being eligible to claim a $10 Practice Incentive Payment (PD 01 Feb).
"We are disappointed that GPs are being paid more, and moreover have the ability to claim [a payment] for assessing patients even when patients refuse to receive the vaccine, or perhaps are not eligible to receive the vaccine at that time," he said.
"We at the Guild are strongly advocating on behalf of members on these issues.
"It is the Guild's position that all vaccinators, in the interest of the public health goal of vaccinating as many Australians as quickly as possible, that are capable can participate, but also [are] remunerated at equal levels for providing exactly the same service."
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 11 Mar 21
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 11 Mar 21
