THE Pharmacy Guild has slammed as "categorically incorrect" allegations made in a Parliamentary committee last week that it used patient phone numbers collected via its COVID-19 vaccination booking to later send text messages as part of its campaign against 60-day dispensing.
Labor Senator Anne Urquhart made the claims at a Senate hearing on Fri, saying constituents received emails and text messages as part of the campaign, and that it was "put to her" that the Guild had collected the patient data via the Find a Pharmacy website.
Penny Shakespeare, Deputy Secretary for Health Resourcing, agreed that it was "likely" the data had come from the Guild's jab booking site, adding that a number of consumers had contacted the Department of Health saying they were unaware of how their details were obtained, apart from "when they obtained COVID-19 vaccinations from a pharmacy".
Even if that was the case, Shakespeare said it is unlikely that there were to be any legal problems as long as "there have been authorisations to use the information put in place - even if that is just a tick box".
The Guild denied the allegation, saying the assertion that it had access to patient vaccination information from pharmacies was completely wrong.
"The Guild adheres to all relevant privacy laws and regulations," a spokesperson insisted.
The Find a Pharmacy website has been expanded beyond COVID-19 vaccination to also offer availability of UTI diagnosis, medical certificates and cholesterol testing.
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