Pharmacy Daily | Meds delivery fee upped

PHARMACIES that offer to deliver prescription medicines to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic will now receive $7.77 per delivery from the Federal Government, as part of its $25 million Home Medicines Service funding package.

Having originally allocated a $5 rebate for the service, the Government increased the fee to match the $7.77 cost of using Australia Post's new contactless pharmacy home delivery service, which was launched on Sat.

Speaking on the Super Radio Network this morning, Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, George Tambassis, said the service would provide a courier platform to pharmacies that have not previously been offering home delivery, as they work to meet the needs of patients during the ongoing crisis.

"We worked really closely with the team at Australia Post to make it as easy as possible for pharmacies to use Australia Post if it suits them," he said.

"We're already seeing increased demand from patients - elderly and not so elderly people who can't get out of the house or whose carers are too busy ringing pharmacies to ask them 'can we please have our medicines delivered from now on?'

"We need to change the way we run our pharmacies, [and] we have to adapt to the new world now."

Announcing the new service on Sat, Australia Post CEO, Christine Holgate, said the Express Post service would support pharmacies maintain access to medicines at this time.

"We know so many people rely on their local pharmacy for essential medication, particularly the vulnerable and elderly who may not be able to visit their local store," she said.

"Making delivery to people's home is critical at this time.

"We also understand the challenges facing small business at the moment and we have designed a simple system that will allow pharmacies to offer Express Post delivery to their customers from Mon, allowing them to continue to trade.

"Australia Post remains open for business during this very trying time.

"Our Post Offices are open and our posties and drivers are still out delivering each and every day.

"With this new service, customers will receive access to quick delivery of medication by a brand known and trusted by them."

While the Guild has worked closely with Australia Post, a spokesperson told Pharmacy Daily, it was "just an option for a pharmacy that hasn't provided home delivery services before".

Speaking at the Australia Pharmacy Professional (APP) Conference online earlier this month Guild Digital General Manager, Aaron D'Souza had flagged Kings Transport's pharmacy to home service as an existing option, while MedAdvisor has fast tracked the launch of its deliver service, (PD 27 Mar), also using Kings Transport.