Symbion: don’t deregulate
July 15, 2014
SYMBION Pty Ltd has said the
Australian community would not
gain any benefit from deregulating
the community pharmacy sector or
opening it up to competition from
grocery chains.
In its submission to the
Competition Policy Review
published yesterday, the company
said instead it believed crucial
services integral to the front line of
the Australian health system would
be lost if changes were made.
Symbion said ownership
restrictions had led to a “dynamic
and innovative market in a very
competitive landscape”, where
pharmacies were free to move
between groups.
It said current regulations had
not resulted in a reduction in
innovation or competition.
Symbion said the grocery sector
was already encroaching into
traditionally pharmacy-only areas,
and that medicines represented
more than a “simple sale of a
product.
“The advice provided by
a qualified pharmacist in a
professional environment regarding
the safe consumption of the
medication has a significant impact
on the health outcomes of the
patient.”
Symbion said with no on-site
professional advice at grocery
stores, consumers were left to selfdiagnose
based on price.
“Some pharmaceutical
products already available
within supermarkets can be
potentially dangerous if consumed
incorrectly...this risk would
likely grow further if the range
available within supermarkets was
increased.”
In its submission to the Review,
Woolworths said the lines between
retail formats were becoming
blurred as “pharmacies have moved
from selling only prescription
medicine into a wide rage of
baby care and health and beauty
products including baby food and
formula.”
For more, CLICK HERE.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 15 Jul 14To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 15 Jul 14
