4 May, 2023
Pharmacies versus the RACGP. Who’s right? And why does it matter?
The Oakey Pharmacy has told residents to expect medicine shortages, but the Government and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners say the costs of prescriptions will be reduced.
The war of words comes following the Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler’s announcement which doubles the amount of medicine a pharmacy can dispense to a patient from 30 days worth up to 60 days, for more than 320 medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
This will effectively halve the dispensing fees for these medicines from pharmacies.
The changes, which will come into effect on 1 September, will save patients up to $180 a year on medications for chronic conditions including heart disease and hypertension.
Currently, patients are limited to a 28- or 30-day supply, forcing them to take more trips to the pharmacy for medications for stable conditions.
The Oakey Pharmacy’s Nathan Jervis said changes to the amount of medicine being dispensed would have an adverse impact on his business, and affect supply lines.
“(The Government’s announcement) is a crazy policy decision,” he said.
“Currently, there are over 450 medications (listed on the Therepeutic Goods Administration website) that are unavailable or under-supply,” he said.
“You (as a patient) might get your medication, but some people are going to miss out.
Mr Jervis said the decision to double the amount of medication was inconsistent with the Government’s focus on reducing the risk of overdose on medications.
“At the moment, the Therapeutic Goods Association has reduced paracetamol from 100 tablets to 30 tablets,” he said.
“But this decision will mean that two months worth of anti-depressant medication and heart medication will be available which can have way worse effects (than paracetamol).
“If this goes through in July, we’re going to have to look at other ways to provide the best service possible.
“We may have to start charging for other things we do for free.
“I may not be able to keep all my staff on.”
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) said it welcomed the Government’s decision to make medicines cheaper and easier to access for patients.
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins hailed the decision as a momentous day for those on medications who are struggling to make ends meet.
“This is a win for patients,” she said.
“Cost of living pressures are placing tremendous strain on households across Australia, so there has never been a more important time to save patients money and time.
“Patients with a range of chronic conditions including heart disease will be able to save up to $180 a year and that will make a huge difference for so many households.
“This announcement shows the tide is turning.”
“In 2018, the Pharmacy Benefits Advisory Committee recommended increasing the maximum dispensed quantities of common medications from one to two months’ supply.
“This change has been recommended because it is in the best interests of patients, and I am pleased that the Government has heeded the expert advice.”
Dr Higgins said the decision was the right one for patients.
“Despite what you hear from the Pharmacy Guild, there is no evidence of a shortage of the medications that are included in (last month’s) announcement,” Dr Higgins said.
“Some pharmacy owners may be concerned that they will lose retail sales; however, at the end of the day cheaper access to lifesaving medications must come before retail sales, it’s as simple as that.”
Dr Higgins said despite the loss of funds for pharmacies, the length of prescriptions should be extended for other medications as well.
“My aim is for (last month’s) announcement to be just the beginning,” she said.
“Let’s go even further and extend the length of prescriptions for patients with stable chronic conditions. “
A recent poll of more than 1,000 GPs who answered the question: “Do you think your patients would benefit from doubling dispensing times to 60 days?” found that 85% of doctors said ‘yes.’
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia said it wasn’t consulted on the decision and has cautioned that the Government’s intention to introduce 60-day dispensing in this year’s Commonwealth Budget will significantly worsen a current medicines shortage.
It said shortages already exist for medications to treat a range of conditions, including blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, depression, anxiety, osteoporosis and Parkinson’s Disease.
The Guild’s National President Trent Twomey said the Health Minister’s refusal to guarantee patients would receive the medicine they needed or that pharmacies wouldn’t close was worrying.
“This is a $3.5 billion cut to patient care across every single community in Australia and that should worry patients,” he said.
“This cut to patient care will mean aged care services are reduced and elderly patients may go without medicine.
“This cut will mean parents wanting access to late night medicines for their kids will miss out because pharmacies will be forced to scale back their opening hours.
“This cut will put more pressure on emergency departments because people will need to go somewhere when their pharmacy is closed.
“I want the Federal Government to guarantee millions of Australians won’t go without the medicines to treat high cholesterol, diabetes, depression, and anxiety, because of shortages that this policy will deliver.
“Double of nothing is still nothing.”
Mr Twomey said he welcomed the Health Minister’s commitment to reinvest the money cut
by the new policy back
into community pharmacies across Australia.
“We will be holding the Minister to his word that every cent is invested back into dispensing medicine in community pharmacies and supporting our patients.”
The Guild said similar policies extending prescriptions were found to have an adverse impact on pharmacies in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Mr Jervis said the situation was an evolving one, and the rollout has since been slowed down from the initial plan to help pharmacies adapt.
“Initially we were told 325 medications (would be eligible under the announcement) on 1st July,” he said.
“But (that will now be) 100 on the 1st of September, more in March and then finally the rest on 1st September.”
Mr Jervis said statements made by the RACGP about the financial capability of pharmacies to survive the change in policy were far too general.
“You can’t compare pharmacies apples for apples,” he said.
“We don’t have the same buying power that big pharmacies have.”
“Big warehouse pharmacies don’t do deliveries (like we do in Oakey).”
Mr Jervis said he just wants a bit more clarity on the impact the changes will have on his business.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has been contacted for comment regarding. Oakey Pharmacy’s concerns.
