Guild: Audit MedsCheck
March 6, 2014
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
has called for an audit of the
MedsCheck program.
This follows reports that Chemist
Warehouse has been pushing
MedsChecks within its pharmacies,
with one store completing more
than 300 in a fortnight.
In forefront, executive director
David Quilty said the Guild had
been contacted by concerned
pharmacy owners and staff, who
were upset that their use of
MedsChecks was being curtailed
in the 01 Mar cap (PD 13 Feb),
particularly if due to other groups
allegedly not abiding by the rules.
He said the Guild was passing
on any written and anecdotal
information it received about
alleged questionable behaviours
to the Departments of Health and
Human Services.
Quilty said the Government
should audit any pharmacies who
had been claiming an “inordinately
large number” of MedsChecks and
any pharmacies found not to be
abiding by eligibility criteria and
requirements should be required to
repay the money, with examples of
fraud sent to authorities.
“By taking firm action, the
Government will send a strong
signal that it is determined to
maintain the integrity of these
important medication management
programs to the benefit of patients
and the overwhelming majority of
Australia’s 5,300 pharmacies who
do the right thing.”
The Federal Department of
Health said it took any report of
inappropriate use of services very
seriously and would investigate
where appropriate.
A spokeswoman said she could
not comment on any internal
audits or investigations planned
or underway, until they were
completed and action taken where
necessary.
Chemist Warehouse had not
replied to a request for comment at
time of writing.
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