Calls for pharmacy audit
April 2, 2012
AUSTRALIAN pharmacies could
be looking down the barrel of a
national pharmacy audit, if
APESMA has its way.
The pharmacist union has written
to the Fair Work Ombudsman
requesting a national audit of
pharmacies in order to identify and
rectify issues of non-compliance
with employment laws, including
underpayment.
The move follows an audit in
Queensland which found 44.3% of
audited pharmacies were not
complying with employment laws.
“Unfortunately this problem is
not confined to Queensland,” Chris
Walton, CEO of APESMA said.
“We believe a national audit
would reveal a similar or even
worse picture if it were conducted
right now”, he added, saying that
most pharmacists were reluctant to
raise concerns about their
treatment at work, and instead
“tend to just get on with their
jobs”.
“Many others are too frightened
to speak out,” he added.
“That’s why we need a
comprehensive national audit to
make sure these issues are
identified and every pharmacist
gets paid properly.
“Can you imagine the outcry if
44.3% of nurses were being illegally
underpaid, or 44.3% of teachers or
44.3% of the police force?,” Walton
said.
“Pharmacists perform a vital
community service equal to any of
these occupations but their
mistreatment is too readily
ignored,” he added.
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