By Parker McKenzie
The federal government’s changes to allow doctors to prescribe 60-day scripts for hundreds of medicines, instead of 30 days, is worrying pharmacists.
Minister for Health Mark Butler said in a statement that nearly a million Australians are forced to delay or go without medicine each year.
“This cheaper medicines policy is safe, good for Australians’ hip pockets and most importantly good for their health,” he said.
“Australian pharmacies already do much more than just dispense medicine and the Government is supporting our trusted pharmacists to play an even bigger role in the healthcare of Australians.”
Doctors will be able to prescribe 320 medicines, including for conditions like heart disease, high cholesterol and Crohn’s disease, for 60 days if they believe it is appropriate for their patients.
The change was a recommendation of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee in 2018.
A local pharmacist in the Dandenong Ranges told the Star Mail that the changes would impact revenue at pharmacies, who wouldn’t get any of the benefits.
“They are asking us to eat the cost for other people’s savings,” the pharmacist said.
“We don’t have shortages at the moment, but they are asking us to hold more stock in the future.”
The pharmacist said the 60-day scripts would likely be rolled out in groups of roughly 100, and that if the government doesn’t compromise on the changes they would consider speaking out on social media about the issue.
The federal government argues that despite being able to buy double the medicine on a single script, overall demand for medicines and availability won’t change or contribute to shortages.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia said it has yet to be briefed on the policy by the Federal Government or the Department of Health.
“This is a $3.5 billion cut to patient care across every single community in Australia and that should worry patients.” National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Trent Twomey said.
$350 million will also be invested in community pharmacy outreach into aged care to ensure elderly people have access to medication.
