Xenophon, Greens pledge
June 9, 2016
Responding to the Pharmacy
Guild of Australia invitation to
political parties to state their
position with relation to the future
sustainability of pharmacy business
in Australia, Malcolm Turnbull was
first to respond (PD yesterday), and
yesterday independent senator
Nick Xenophon and leader of the
Greens, Richard Di Natale weighed
in with their support.
Xenephon stated his Nick
Xenophon Team (NXT) position
clearly, opposing deregulation and
supermarket pharmacies, opposing
the optional $1 discount imposition
and proposed PBS co-payment
increases.
The independent senator said he
addressed some of his concerns to
the Senate in March last year saying
that “community pharmacists
would once again be an unfair
target for government savings that
would be counter-productive to the
health of Australians.”
Xenophon also made a bid
for funding support from Guild
members given that he is running
his NXT campaign on what he calls
a “dental floss budget”.
Di Natale flew the committed-to-certainty
flag saying that five-year
community pharmacy agreements
create an increased level of
business stabilty for community
pharmacy.
He also called for greater
transparency in negotiations with
the government.
A major point for the Greens
was their commitment to “closing
the gap in the health outcomes of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Australians” adding that they are
“strong supporters of the role of
community pharmacy in ensuring
equitable access to medicines
under the PBS through the QUMAX
program which addresses cultural,
transport and other barriers.”
The Greens highlighted their
advocacy on medicinal cannabis,
claiming some credit for progress to
a regulatory framework.
“We will continue to advocate
for access for patients to medicinal
cannabis, and for pharmacists to
be involved in the development of
policy, protocols and guidelines for
its use and dispensing,” he wrote.
“I am grateful for the strong and
constructive relationship between
the Australian Greens and the
Pharmacy Guild, and look forward
to building on this to amplify the
voice of community pharmacy in
broader health reform.”
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 09 Jun 16To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 09 Jun 16