Pharmacists adding their own prescription for curing 60-day rule

Chemists are going to new lengths as they fight new rules that will halve the cost of medicine. Find out what they are doing.

Exclusive: Chemists are printing anti-government advertisements down the side of repeat prescription forms as they fight new rules that will halve the cost of medicine.

The 60-day script rule to be announced in next week’s budget will halve medicine costs, saving general patients $180 a year and pensioners $43.

The Pharmacy Guild claims the policy that will apply to 300 commonly used medicines will slash chemist’s incomes and could send some pharmacies bankrupt.

Chemist shops are prominently displaying political advertisements against the changes in their stores and some are putting anti-government leaflets in packages when customers purchase products.

Some patients have also been shocked to discover political advertising printed down the side of their repeat prescription forms.

Under a picture of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the advertising reads: “Under threat, Under threat ALP budget cuts risk medication shortages and pharmacy viability”.

The ad contains a URL code that patients can scan using their smart phone that takes them to a website containing further anti-government messaging and a petition.

The information does not mention that patients stand to save hundreds of dollars a year under the changes.

A repeat medical script that has anti-government advertising.

The Consumer’s Health Forum (CHF) yesterday branded the advertising as “concerning”.

“In the last couple of weeks we’ve seen the Pharmacy Guild, which represents pharmacy owners, create unnecessary alarm and concern among consumers but this is one step too far,” CHF CEO Dr Elizabeth Deveny said.

“We have not seen this done before on scripts and it is definitely not in the best interests of patients.

“The independent body (PBAC) that recommended this change took into account current shortages due to the global pandemic and we urge the Pharmacy Guild to reconsider their efforts which have the potential to alarm consumers unnecessarily,” she said.

The independent body that recommended the 60-day script rule took into account stock shortages due to the global pandemic.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia‘s Code of Ethics states that pharmacists must “not engage in inappropriate advertising* or promotion that could undermine public trust in the profession”.

It also requires chemists to “ensures that business practices are conducted primarily in the interests of patient health”.

The Department of Health said it is “is aware of recent conduct undertaken by certain pharmacists in response to the government’s announcement last week”.

“The department is reviewing the conduct to date and will continue to closely monitor conduct for compliance relating to pharmacy approvals under the National Health Act; and whether the conduct requires referral to Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and Pharmacy Board of Australia regarding the professional conduct of pharmacists,” a spokesperson said.

“Separately, the department has referred, and will continue to refer, the conduct undertaken by certain pharmacists to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.”

Pharmacy Guild of Australia national president Professor Trent Twomey. Picture: Allen Mechen

Asked to comment, a spokesperson for the Pharmacy Guild said: “This is not Guild material.”

The Guild has been criticised for its inaccurate claim that the changes will lead to medicines shortages.

Health Minister Mark Butler has said only seven of the 300 medicines that will be affected by the change are in short supply.

Most current medicines shortages will be alleviated from July 1 under an agreement with the medicines industry.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

In return for a price rise that took effect last year, generic medicine companies have guaranteed they will keep six months’ supply of medicines in Australia from July 1.

Pharmacists currently earn $26 billion in revenue a year and the 60-day rule is estimated to reduce that income by just 1 to 1.5 per cent, Mr Butler has said.

The government has promised all the savings will be returned to chemists who will get new government payments to deliver vaccines and provide opioid dependence treatments.

Originally published as Pharmacists adding their own prescription for curing 60-day rule