Sydney pharmacists criticise government’s 60-day medicine dispensing policy

Sydney pharmacists are pleading with the federal government to reverse reforms that change the way medicines are dispensed – with some fearing it will exacerbate shortages.

Carmen Drive Community Pharmacy pharmacists Susan and Yvonne Nguyen are unhappy about the federal government's 60-day dispensing policy.

Pharmacists are speaking out against the federal government’s changes to the way medicines are dispensed, fearing they will be forced to cut opening hours and slash frontline services.

Under the government’s new 60-day dispensing policy, to come into effect on September 1, patients with chronic conditions would be allowed to buy two months’ worth of PBS-listed medicines for the price of a single prescription, instead of the existing one-month’s supply.

That will be applied to more than 300 PBS medicines.

The reform was introduced to ease the cost of living pressures, but the Pharmacy Guild of Australia said it could cause overdoses, worsen medicine shortages, prompt pharmacy closures and force chemists to cut home deliveries.

The guild said 6000 pharmacies were being asked to support more patients while cutting 50 per cent of their funding.

Carlingford’s Carmen Drive Community Pharmacy co-owner Susan Nguyen said there were already more than 400 medications in short supply, including medicines to treat cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease.

“We have serious concerns that it will exacerbate medicine shortages, which will make it harder for access to the medication for the community,’’ she said.

“We are particularly concerned for the vulnerable and those who face challenges managing their medications.”

Ms Nguyen said the changes could mean small pharmacies like Carmen Drive might have to start charging for services such as blood pressure testing, diabetes and cholesterol checks.

“The 60-day supply policy will not allow us to provide time and care because we will be short-staffed and spread thinly,’’ she said. “It will fracture our thriving community. All we want is to provide accessible, affordable, quality care to the community, but these changes put those at risk.’’

Emerton Amcal Pharmacy pharmacist Curtis Ruhnau echoed the concerns and said his patients would be worse off.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s NSW president David Heffernan said the changes would be a cut to healthcare.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s NSW president David Heffernan. Picture: Joel Carrett

Emerton Amcal Pharmacy pharmacist Curtis Ruhnaun rejects changes.

“If the federal government cannot provide a guarantee that no patient and no community pharmacy will be worse off under their new medicine policy, I don’t know how they expect Australians to believe that this is not a cut to healthcare,” he said.

However, the government expects the policy, which will be fully implemented on September 1 2024, will generate a string of benefits.

It predicts at least six million Australians who need regular medicines for chronic conditions would reduce their medicine costs by $1.6bn over four years.

Under the 60-day policy, patients could save up to $180 a year per medicine and up to $43.80 for concession card holders, as well as have the number of trips to the GP and pharmacist.

The government said this would “free up millions of GP visits and make it easier to see a doctor”.

Parramatta federal Labor MP Andrew Charlton said the changes would halve medicine costs for almost 40,000 residents across Parramatta.

The government says the policy will free up GPs. Picture: Getty Images

“The government is making hundreds of medicines cheaper by allowing Australians to buy two months’ worth of medicine for the price of a single prescription,’’ he said.

“This change implements a recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee made five years ago. The proposal is supported by doctors’ groups and patient groups because it will deliver big savings to people and take pressure off GPs.’’

Mr Charlton did not accept critics’ concerns that the $1.2bn in savings would not help patients and said it would be “entirely invested” back into community pharmacies.