24/04/2023
say no "TO PROPOSED PHARMACY 60 DAY DISPENSING"
Pharmacists, pharmacy owners and Pharmacy assistants across Australia have received a terrible news from the Pharmacy Guild that the 2023/24 Australian Federal Budget in early May 2023 will implent 60 day dispensing rule.
As you may not be aware of the difference between 30 and 60 day dispensing rule.
please allow me to explain it in full details
if 60 day dispensing is ruled out
pros: save money and convinient for people with prescriptions
Cons:
1. shortage of medications: double up supply for each medications will create a big burden to the suppliers. At the moment, we have not rectified the shortage supply of essential medications yet eg: children antibiotics, anticoagulation, high blood pressure, diabetics, blood thining. if your children required antibiotic in Dec 23 and Jan 24, you would remember the frustration of running around from one pharmacy to another to grab a bottle of antibiotic for your sick children. ozempic is another big issue at the moment, we have a limited supply of stock on a monthly basic and the waiting list is so long. if 60 day dispensing is applied, some patients will receive 2 ozempic at a time and the other will sit in a waiting list forever.
Therefore 60 day dispensing rule will increase the risk of people missing essential medications, there will be an unfair or favourism judgement fo supply double quantity and the other would miss out and go without
2. wastage: if medications change, you need to throw out a double quantity.
3. safety concern: Narcotic and dependent drugs eg: panadeine forte, Endone, Codeine, Morphine to be supplied 2 months at a time are very dangerous to patients.
Antipsychotic and antidepressants drugs can lead to a fatal death if missued (patients are quite vunerable, give them extra access to the dangerous drug, will promote overdose.
4. Pharmacy trading hours will be cut down extensively because Pharmacy would not be able to afford the additional expensive of operating extended hours.
5. job losses: half of our staff will be gone because we receive 50% income reduction.
in a short term small independent pharmacies will be vanished, only big giant pharmacies will remain and manipulate the market. There will be no longer fair trading term.
For many decades of practice as a pharmacist, i am confident to say that, i have prevent many patients from
1. episodes of asthma attacks.
2. Mental breakdown
3. Suicidal attemps
4. Anxiety attacks
5. Opiod withdrawal risks.
6. Preventable infections.
7. early signs of Azhimer.
Least but not last, during Pandemic, we worked so hard, no personal protective equiptment supply, we put up with many abusive and aggressive behaviour from public, constantly put ourselves, our families and especially our elderly parents at high risk due to exposure viruses, long hours trading, provide countless vaccination, free home delivery (sometimes we mucked around, we are Covid virus resistant)
Pandemic is over, we thought we would be recognised as a hero front line workers, a caring ethical pharmacist but in fact, it is disgrace from the labour government who has given us a big slab in the face.
PLEASE HELP US TO REMAIN YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY.
In order to truely make an impact please contact as many Federal MP’s IMMEDIATELY to voice your concerns about this bill and the devastating impact it will have on the community pharmacy Australian-wide. Together we can help to ensure the survival of community pharmacies, please ACT NOW.
reject the idea of "60 day dispensing rule"
thank you for reading my long post.
have a wonderful night.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia
