Pharmacy Daily | Vic cuts funding

VICTORIANS no longer have access to any pharmacies past midnight under changes introduced from 01 Jan.

The Pharmacy Guild told the ABC that govt funding cuts have led to pharmacies shortening their hours of operation on short notice.

The Victorian govt established Supercare Pharmacies in 2016 to help reduce pressure on busy emergency departments.

However, out of the original 20 Supercare pharmacies running across the state, just eight are still operating seven days a week.

From the start of this year, those eight pharmacies have now stopped operating 24 hours a day.

The Department of Health attributed the changes to a lack of demand for the services of Supercare Pharmacies.

"As a result of other govt investments, demand for Supercare Pharmacies has decreased significantly and they are no longer required in some areas," a Department of Health spokesperson said.

"The govt has established a range of alternative options for Victorians to get urgent care including Priority Primary Care Centres and the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, for less urgent care, people can still visit their local GP or call Nurse-on-call."

Paul Krassaris, the acting president of the Victorian branch of the Guild, said the move was disappointing.

"If the funding wasn't cut, these pharmacies would continue to remain open.

"Speaking to a lot of the owners, even if they were breaking even with the funding, they would continue to open up," Krassaris said.