Pharmacists consider strike action against Albanese Government over cheaper scripts

Australian pharmacists are considering unprecedented industrial action over federal government plans that Professor Twomey claims would bankrupt chemists.

Phamacists are considering strike action over Albanese government’s cheaper scripts plan.

EXCLUSIVE

Pharmacists are considering strike action and could refuse to fill medicine packs or provide services to aged care residents as their row with the Albanese government over cheaper scripts escalates.

They are also discussing closing their shops early if the government refuses to back down on measures that would save consumers hundreds of dollars a year and allow them to get two months’ supply of medicines for the price of one.

The unprecedented industrial action was discussed at a Pharmacy Guild webinar on Sunday which outlined a detailed campaign strategy against the cheaper medicine changes that will be phased in from September.

A screen shot from the webinar which outlines the industrial action was sent to the Pharmacy Guild which was asked to comment.

“We are an industrial organisation who represents our members and their patients and we ask that the Government guarantees that no patient and no pharmacy will be worse off under the changes,” President of the Pharmacy Guild Trent Twomey said in response.

The Guild has whipped up a highly emotional campaign to get the changes over turned with Professor Twomey breaking into tears on national television on Wednesday as he claimed chemists would go bankrupt.

Professor Trent Twomey claims chemists would go bankrupt over the federal government's plans for cheaper scripts. Picture: Stewart McLean

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

Health Minister Mark Butler said on Monday only 7 of the 300 medicines that will be affected by the change are in short supply.

It should be noted that many current medicines shortages will be alleviated from July 1 under an agreement with the medicines industry.

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.

The cheaper medicines plan will be a key cost of living measure in the May budget and the changes were recommended five years ago by the independent expert Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee which decides which medicines get a government subsidy.

Screenshots from the Guild’s weekend webinar contain links to campaign material that show he Guild plans to enlist customers in their campaign against the government asking them to sign petitions and share their stories about access to medicines.

Australian Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler. Picture: Getty Images

Health Minister Mark Butler strongly defended the changes in multiple interviews yesterday and said consumers would save $180 a year and have their medicine costs halved.

“I am confident this is the right thing to do, particularly by patients,” he said.

“It’s not only going to be good for their hip pocket, obviously, and halve the cost of their medicines. But it’s also good for their health because overseas evidence – and this is pretty standard in every other country we usually compare ourselves to: UK, New Zealand, Canada, Europe, all of those countries – show evidence that expanding the number of tablets you can get at once, so 60 days or in most of these countries it’s 90 days, improves medication compliance,” he told ABC radio.

The changes will cut pharmacy income by $1.2 billion over 4 years but the Minister said “every single one of those dollars will be reinvested into community pharmacy”.

Pharmacists currently earn $26 billion in revenue a year or more than $100 billion over four years, he said.

“The pharmacy sector in the last four years grew by 30 per cent, so it will grow – let’s say it’s $100 billion, there will be a hit of about $1.6 billion, somewhere in the order of 1 to 1.5 per cent of revenue will be impacted by this measure,” he said.

Australian Medical Association President Professor Steve Robson said: “The government’s policy puts patients first. It saves patients up to $180 per year on each selected medicine”.“As trusted healthcare professionals we should all continue to strive for what is best for our patients,” Prof Robson said.