Qld pharmacy clean up
January 17, 2011
COMMUNITY pharmacies across Queensland may suffer financial strain even if they were not directly affected by the flood waters, according to the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. According to the Guild, the loss of tourism, as a direct response to the flooding, will not only hamper the rebound of pharmacies in the 89 towns and cities which suffered severe flooding, but will also have dampening flow-on effects for pharmacies across the state. “Community pharmacy is a business that relies on cash flow working efficiently,” said Guild President, Kos Sclavos. “Even though a pharmacy may not have been directly affected by the flood waters, businesses will be significantly jeopardised by flattened trading. “Unfortunately, insurance cover does not assist hundreds of pharmacies that will face significant loss of trade,” he added. The comments were made whilst Sclavos toured some of the flood devastated pharmacies in Ipswich and Brisbane over the weekend. “It is difficult to comprehend the damage to so many pharmacies,” he said. “Not only is stock destroyed but fixtures and fitting have also been damaged and even ceilings have had to be stripped bare where flooding was above the ceiling height. “The re-build will take some time,” he added. MEANWHILE Sclavos also called on pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide “direct assistance” to flood affected community pharmacies in order to help businesses remain viable and to help staff retain their jobs. Sclavos confirmed that the Guild is currently in talks with the major pharmaceutical manufacturers, and also with Medicines Australia, the Generic Medicines Industry Association, and ASMI, regarding “direct assistance” possibilities including extending credit for a temporary period. “I am very pleased to report that the response I have had so far from manufacturers has been very supportive, and I hope that together we can work through the immense challenges ahead for so many community pharmacies,” Sclavos said. Pictured below cleaning and fixing flood damage at Aston’s Pharmacy in the inner Brisbane suburb of Rosalie is (from left) Robyn Ede, Lesle Aston, Garry Aston and Kos Sclavos.
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