ICONIC Adelaide business Midnight Pharmacy is facing fears of forced closure following SA Premier Peter Malinauskas' 24/7 pharmacy announcement last week, according to its owner.
While much of the state has welcomed the significant enhancement to local healthcare accessibility, Midnight Pharmacy owner Peter Angelos (pictured) said he's "devastated" by what it will mean for his business.
Angelos said his pharmacy will be competing with two Chemist Warehouse stores and a National Pharmacies outlet offering after-hours services next year.
"It'll kill my business," he told The Advertiser yesterday.
He claimed Adelaide lacks the demand for three 24/7 pharmacies, and is certain the increased services, buoyed by $2.5 million per year in state government funding, will send him "down the gurgler" despite surviving through COVID and the cost-of-living crisis.
"It'll certainly affect our business, and we've been here for the last 30 years," he said, asserting around-the-clock pharmacy services weren't viable in the state.
It will impact all the single owner pharmacies, he commented.
"We've attempted a couple of times to stay open (24/7), and after about midnight, there's hardly anyone around.
"I just don't think we've got the population to support it."
Angelos said there was also a "lack of transparency" surrounding funding provided by the govt and that was why he did not submit an application for the tender.
"I made a couple of attempts to contact the offices of the govt tender, but I wasn't provided with accurate information about what the funding would be," he said.
"I couldn't see how we would be able to afford it.
"I only found out this week from one of my staff members that it was $2.5 million."
He remarked that learning that millions of dollars were being allocated to three major group pharmacies was "a kick in the guts".
"It's a political stunt to use taxpayer's money to fund corporates who are providing services that already exist, and who will basically be funded by us now, instead of supporting pharmacies that were already open until midnight," he said.
Responding to Angelos' concerns, Health Minister Chris Picton reiterated the State Government's intentions in extending community pharmacy services.
"The State Govt is delivering on its election commitment to support three 24/7 pharmacies because there is a need in the community," Picton explained in a statement.
"There is no legal impediment to pharmacies operating 24/7, but currently SA has none.
"The three 24/7 pharmacies were selected through an open, competitive tender process, and all pharmacies which met the tender requirements were encouraged to submit their interest." JG
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