RESIDENTS of the NSW regional town of Cowra, who claim to be cut-off from timely access to the PBS because of the pharmacy location rules, will find out if a new pharmacy will be approved today.
In a letter presented to the House of Representatives last week, Health Minister, Greg Hunt, said a decision would be announced on 08 Apr, following consideration of a submission on the matter from the Department of Health.
The House was petitioned by a group led by Adam Walsh, who said up to 12,500 people were being "denied reasonable access to the supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits due to an unintended consequence of the application of the Pharmacy Location Rules".
The community called on MPs to request that Minister Hunt use his discretionary powers to approve a pharmacy at Suite 4, 167-169 Kendal Street, Cowra.
"The current level of two approved pharmacists to supply pharmaceutical benefits to this community does not provide the population of more than 12,000 residents with reasonable, timely nor adequate access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)," Walsh said.
"The current level of supply of pharmaceutical benefits does not allow residents to improve their health outcomes through access to, and quality use of medicines in a timely manner."
Minister Hunt said he could only use his discretionary powers "to address circumstances where there is an unintended consequence of the Pharmacy Location Rules".
"I can only exercise my discretionary power if I am satisfied that a decision to not approve a pharmacist would result in a community being left without reasonable access to PBS medicines, and it is in the public interest to do so," he said.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 08 Apr 19
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