PBS reforms to continue
November 21, 2013
Pharmacy Guild executive
director David Quilty has pledged
to continue to campaign against the
latest rounds of PBS reforms, after
revealing that Health Minister Peter
Dutton “has indicated that, at this
point, the government is not in a
position to ameliorate the impact
of the 2 August changes to price
disclosure”.
The changes, which have been the
subject of the massive Guild “Save
your local pharmacy” campaign
gathering more than 1.1 million
signatures, accelerated the latest
round of PBS reforms and according
to Guild estimates will hit the
average community pharmacy by a
$90,000 reduction in gross profit.
Writing in the latest issue of
the Forefront newsletter, Quilty
welcomed Dutton’s commitment to
resolve the chemotherapy funding
issue and his clear support for the
current pharmacy model (PD yest).
But despite Dutton’s disappointing
stance on the PBS changes, Quilty
says the issue is “too important for
pharmacies to throw in the towel.
“The Guild will keep campaigning
until a solution is found that
ensures the ongoing viability of
local pharmacies,” he said.
Quilty said it’s essential that
the Guild and its members “stand
up and be counted at this critical
juncture as the decisions that
are taken over the next 12 to 18
months will largely determine the
future of community pharmacy in
Australia”.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 21 Nov 13To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 21 Nov 13
