NEW figures from the Department of Health and Ageing show that 22 pharmacies across the country closed during the eight months since the Federal Government's 60-day double dispensing policy took effect.
Between 01 Sep 2023 and 30 Nov 2024, the number of pharmacy closures was significantly fewer than the number predicted by the Guild last year.
When lobbying against the policy in 2023, Guild President Trent Twomey said "as many as 20,000 jobs will be lost, 665 pharmacies will close and Australia's most vulnerable patients will suffer under the Albanese Government's 60-day dispensing policy" (PD 12 Jul 2023).
However, new figures from the Department of Health and Ageing show that only 22 pharmacies across the country closed during the eight months since the policy took effect, between 01 Sep 2023 and 30 Nov 2024.
In fact, the department fielded a total of 165 applications during that time to open new pharmacies, 87 of which it approved.
The reality paints a stark contrast to the warnings made by the Guild in the independent report it released in Apr 2023, shortly after the policy was announced.
The report claimed that 60-day scripts meant pharmacy owners would lose around $170,000 a year, and result in staff losses and reduced opening hours and services.
Around the same time, Twomey also hit out at Health Minister Mark Butler (pictured) during a heated press conference, claiming the government doesn't care about the impact on pharmacists.
Butler has commented on the statistics that have followed the implementation of 60-day scripts, saying that "despite claims that pharmacies would close because of 60-day prescriptions, the opposite has happened".
"More pharmacies have opened and they're delivering more services," he pointed out.
"Our hard-fought reforms are delivering cheaper medicines to millions of Australians - already saving them more than $1 billion in out-of-pocket costs."
"We know it's not just good for patients' hip pocket, it's also good for their health," Butler concluded.
Pharmacy Daily has reached out to the Guild for comment. JM
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