Cabinet ministers meet with Guild over pharmacy uproar
Labor has held a private caucus briefing to quell internal concerns about its cheaper medicines policy
Ministers have met with pharmacy representatives in Canberra to discuss the government’s move to double dispensing, as Labor held a caucus briefing to address concerns about the cheaper medicines policy.
It comes after The Australian revealed Labor MPs were told to not voice concerns over the government’s move to double drug dispensing in community pharmacies, with a Labor insider calling and texting the offices of government MPs strongly advising them not to comment on the issue.
This is despite growing concern among Labor ranks over the proposal to extend the dispensing time frame from 30 to 60 days from September 1.
The policy has been welcomed by doctors who say patients will save money, but criticised by pharmacy operators who warn 60-day dispensing could trigger significant medicine shortages, cause months of delays, increase the risk of overdose and spark hoarding.
In an email to Labor members on Tuesday, Health Minister Mark Butler’s office invited caucus to attend a briefing and raise “any questions they may have about 60-day dispensing”.
The briefing was attended by senior Health Department officials including secretary Brendan Murphy and deputy secretary Penny Shakespeare.
The Australian was told a number of Labor backbenchers attended, including Sharon Claydon, Carina Garland, Louise Miller-Frost, Rob Mitchell, Tracey Roberts, Mike Freelander, Meryl Swanson, Helen Polley, Sally Sitou and Assistant Minister for Mental Health Emma McBride.
Not all MPs who attended raised concerns, with some, such Dr Freelander, speaking in favour. When asked if there were concerns, Mr Butler said: “The government is delivering cheaper medicines for more than six million Australians.”
It is understood the Pharmacy Guild of Australia met with two cabinet ministers on Wednesday as well as Labor backbenchers.
The move to double medicine dispensing dominated question time on Wednesday, with Coalition MPs accusing Labor of exposing hundreds of pharmacies to the risk of bankruptcy.
Peter Dutton and deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley asked Anthony Albanese to guarantee no pharmacist would be worse off under the 60-day dispensing rule.
Pharmacy Guild president Trent Twomey said he had not formally met with Mr Butler to discuss the policy change since it was announced.
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