PHARMACY owners in Victoria are voicing concerns over their stores' future viability after being excluded from the latest round of State Government Business Support Fund grants (PD 23 Sep).
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly yesterday, Liberal Party MP, James Newbury, accused the Victorian Government of failing businesses with its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This Government has yet again let the private sector down," he said.
"Pharmacies are not eligible for the third round of the Government's Business Support Fund, yet brothels and prostitution services are."
Pharmacy Guild of Australia Victorian Branch President, Anthony Tassone, told Pharmacy Daily, that the organisation had written to relevant ministers, urging the Government to reconsider the decision to exclude community pharmacies from the grants.
"It doesn't seem sensible that for instance a general practice within a large medical centre can apply for this funding, but a co-located pharmacy there cannot - despite both primary healthcare providers being able to operate in some form through the COVID restrictions and lockdowns in greater Melbourne," he said.
"We are yet to receive a formal written response and will continue to advocate on behalf of our members -- some of whom are genuinely scared of the prospects of their own pharmacy's survival and the impact for their patients and staff on the other side of the pandemic.
"This issue remains unresolved and continues to be of concern to the Guild and our members.
"Just because community pharmacies have been a 'permitted business' through the COVID restrictions -- does not mean that some aren't without significant challenges for their ongoing viability."
Tassone said businesses are hoping that an easing of restrictions as part of the much anticipated "roadmap to recovery" will provide a boost for the economy.
"There is only so long that businesses, and pharmacies are no exception -- can survive on life support of government assistance such as JobKeeper from the Federal government and other such as commercial tenancy relief at the state level," he said.
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