POLITICIANS of all persuasions last night pledged their support for Australian community pharmacy at the Pharmacy Guild of Australia's annual Parliamentary Dinner.
Attendees included pharmacy stakeholders from across the spectrum, who were addressed in the Great Hall after a busy day in Parliament by Prime Minister Scott Morrison who expressed his admiration for pharmacists.
"You don't just fill scripts - you look out for people...you fill a gap that no supermarket or mega-mart can ever fill," he said.
With next May's Federal Election clearly in view, Morrison reminded attendees of the Government's achievements on behalf of the sector including eliminating the sunset clause on Location Rules, changing payment arrangements for high cost drugs and the ongoing commitment to the PBS listing of all new items recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
The PM also highlighted changes to small business taxation and other initiatives that will benefit pharmacy family businesses, noting that all of the measures were only possible because of Australia's strong economy.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten also spoke at the event, noting Labor support for many of the Government's actions such as tax treatment of small businesses and streamlining the GST.
"You really do help bring us together...there is such a high degree of bipartisanship when it comes to community pharmacy."
More from the Guild Dinner on pages two and three of today's PD.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 28 Nov 18
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 28 Nov 18