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Coalition will seek to block Labor plan for cheaper medicine after backlash from pharmacies (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Seems like the tl;dr is that profits of pharmacies is the highest priority.

Under the changes to take effect from 1 September, about 6 million Australians will be able to collect two-for-one scripts for 320 common medicines, leading to savings of up to $180 a year for each medicine.

The move will save patients more than $1.6bn over the next four years, but is estimated to cost pharmacies $1.2bn due to less frequent dispensing fees.

The Pharmacy Guild has lobbied intensely against the policy, seeking compensation from the government and warning of staff cuts and fee increases for services such as packing Webster packs for elderly patients.

In in-store campaign material, pharmacists have claimed the policy has contributed to medicine shortages and urged patients to blame the prime minister, Anthony Albanese.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

For lucky people like me who won't be affected at all by this, here's a couple of quick links to explain what's going on:

Health Dept. explaination of what they are changing
Good write-up from ABC about the impact and explaining why pharmacy guild is mad

The short version:

At the moment, you can only get a one-month supply of medicines at a time. The Government is adjusting this for a bit over 300 medicines prescribed for chronic, long-term patients. They'll be able to get two months' supply.

This saves these people with some long-term medical issues from having to go to the pharmacy all the time to fill their scripts.
The pharmacy guild doesn't like it, because they like people coming into their stores all the time. They get paid to dispense medicine and like selling you other stuff while they have you in-store.