Pharmacy Daily | PPA seeks share of COVAX payments

UNION group, Professional Pharmacists Australia (PPA) is calling on pharmacy owners to "pass on the COVID-19 vaccination (COVAX) payments" to frontline staff.

In a petition to the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the organisation noted that pharmacists "have played a vital role in supporting the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic", but were "chronically underpaid".

"Despite the crucial role pharmacists have played through the pandemic, they are not receiving adequate workplace support or compensation," the PPA said.

"As well as increased rates of pay, pharmacists should receive direct incentive payments for every COVAX administration, like GPs and pharmacy owners.

"It's time pharmacy owners pass on the COVAX payment and profits made from the pandemic to employee pharmacists who are on the frontline.

"Until pay rates increase the industry will struggle to retain and attract professionals, increasing the already significant skill shortage."

Responding to the PPA's call for profit sharing, Guild Victorian Branch President, Anthony Tassone, told Pharmacy Daily, that such an approach was not viable under the current COVAX remuneration being given to pharmacies.

"Pharmacies are currently remunerated substantially less than general practice in delivery of COVAX, so remuneration models calling for a share of the profits per occasion of service to be passed onto employees run into immediate challenges where the service is not highly profitable," he said.

"It also may have unintended consequences with employees preferencing certain tasks or health services in the pharmacy over other roles including the core clinical function of dispensing and offering advice of medication."

Tassone noted that "immunisation is considered part of the scope of practice of a pharmacist with general registration who undertakes additional training".

"Employers may meet the costs of this training if an employee is delivering vaccinations as part of their role.

"Employees who up-skill and professionally develop to perform different health services for patients may seek to have this considered as part of their remuneration agreement with the pharmacy."