ATTACKS on the community pharmacy sector by News Corp publications over the weekend are "galling" and "ill-informed" the Pharmacy Guild of Australia believes.
Hitting out at criticism of the Location Rules and price variations between pharmacies for prescriptions that fall below the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) co-payment, Guild National President, George Tambassis, described the reporting as a "shameless beat-up".
"This latest unfair assault on medicine pricing is all the more galling when you consider that pharmacies have stayed open and served patients throughout this COVID-19 pandemic in a way that is immensely courageous," he said.
"It is quite appalling that a media organisation would focus on why a medicine might be $9.95 at one pharmacy but $10.95 at another at a time when we are at Stage Four restrictions in Victoria, and pharmacies all over the country are continuing to serve the community with such distinction."
Using data attributed to Chemist Warehouse, the News Corp articles noted that patients faced price differences of up to $15 more for some below co-payment prescriptions, depending on their location and proximity to a discount pharmacy.
"The idea that different businesses with different costs, wages, staff levels and rental overheads should all charge the same price in an open market is frankly unrealistic," Tambassis said.
He also defended the Location Rules, stating they prevented clustering of pharmacies in lucrative areas, and ensure "timely and convenient access" to pharmacy services to patients across the country.
However, Chemist Warehouse CEO, Mario Tascone, told News Corp, the rules prevented the discounter from establishing stores in regional areas.
"They should be relabelled '[the] stop Chemist Warehouse rules'," he said.
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