PHARMACISTS are being urged to put their votes behind "the major party that acknowledges the current problems" facing the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) at the 18 May election.
In a statement released today, former Pharmacy Guild of Australia South Australian Branch president, Ian Todd, hit out at the Coalition Government's handling of the PBS.
Todd, said he has been helping out at a rural pharmacy in Kingston, SA, recently and reported medicines shortages.
"I've been at this for 35 years and I have never seen the catastrophic level of stock availability that I have over the last six months," he said.
"I know that there will be misadventure despite our best efforts and someone will die needlessly, either through mix-ups or lack of stock.
"It's laughable that the Government and the Department of Health can be so divorced from reality that they don't see that the PBS is crumbling.
"The current approach to the PBS spending, medicine prices and pharmacy support is destroying one of the world's best and most equitable drug delivery programs that has delivered immeasurable health benefits," Todd fumed.
"There will be no alternative than for us to take sides this election, supporting the major party that acknowledges these problems and vows to address them.
"It is a very sad state of affairs for quintessential small business people and health professionals to be having to make this choice."
Todd warned that rural pharmacies would be forced to close if supply shortages continue.
He added that patients would be forced to travel hundreds of kilometres to access PBS medicines.
"The nearest big centre from Kingston is Mt Gambier," he said.
"If all those pharmacies survive it's still a 320km round trip.
"Not far in a Commonwealth car obviously, but a bloody long walk when you can't drive."
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