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.
The department fielded a total of 165 applications during that time to open new pharmacies, 87 of which it approved.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia attributed the fewer predicted closures to the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement, which was negotiated between the industry body and the Federal Government last year (PD 14 Mar 2024).
A Guild spokesperson told Pharmacy Daily that the agreement "ensured the sustainability of the community pharmacy network and preserved community pharmacy as the most accessible primary health care destination".
"The 8CPA's $3 billion investment in cheaper medicines and the community pharmacies that deliver them means Australia's more than 6,000 community pharmacies remain viable, open and able to deliver for patients.
"Last federal election, the Pharmacy Guild secured support for the first ever cut to the PBS general copay, reducing the costs of medicines for non-concession card holders from $42.50 to $30.
"More affordable medicines have already saved Australian patients more $346 million: three times the savings delivered by 60-day dispensing," the Guild added.
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).
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