Attendees: Pharmacy Guild National President, Trent Twomey; Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler; Assistant Minister for Rural Health and Mental Health, Emma McBride
TRENT TWOMEY (Pharmacy Guild National President): Good morning everyone, we’re gathered here at the esteemed Capital Chemist, recognized as a finalist in the 2024 Pharmacy of The Year competition nationally. Today, alongside Minister Butler and Minister McBride, we’re proud to announce the new 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement. This agreement is not just beneficial for patients and our healthcare system, but also for the dedicated pharmacists and assistants serving Australians every day.
This agreement, forged between the Government and the Pharmacy Guild, ensures accessibility to affordable and cheaper medicines during times of economic strain. Furthermore, it establishes a sustainable funding model for Australia’s 6,000 community pharmacies, which handle a staggering 450 million occasions of service annually. Now, I’ll hand over to Minister Butler for further details.
MARK BUTLER (Minister for Health and Aged Care): Thank you, Trent. It’s a pleasure to be here at Capital Chemist, a beacon of excellence in pharmacy services. The evolution of pharmacies from mere retail outlets to comprehensive healthcare providers is evident here, reflecting their indispensable role in our healthcare system. I extend my gratitude to David Smith for hosting us and to Emma McBride, the Assistant Minister for Rural Health and Mental Health, whose expertise in pharmacy matters is invaluable to me and the team.
Before delving into the specifics of the agreement inked yesterday, I must commend Trent, the Pharmacy Guild, and our departmental negotiators for their tireless efforts over several months. Negotiating this agreement was no small feat, but a necessary endeavor given its significance. Every Community Pharmacy Agreement negotiation, as history would attest, is robust, as it should be. Anthony Tassone, the Vice President of The Guild and the Victorian President, led the Guild’s negotiating team with vigor, and their collaboration with our departmental counterparts was instrumental.
This agreement strikes a delicate balance, delivering not only cheaper medicines, a longstanding advocacy of the Guild, but also ensuring a secure and sustainable future for community pharmacies. These pharmacies, nearly 6,000 strong nationwide, proved their mettle during the COVID-19 pandemic. Allowed to actively contribute to the vaccination effort, pharmacies administered over 10 million COVID vaccinations, showcasing their vital role in our nation’s health infrastructure. Even during the height of the pandemic, pharmacies remained steadfast, underscoring their accessibility and reliability as healthcare providers.
This agreement cements a foundation for the next five years, providing stability to pharmacy businesses while freezing co-payment for pensioners and concession cardholders, a lifeline amid rising living costs. As many as a million Australians annually forego prescribed medicines due to financial constraints, highlighting the urgency of cheaper medicines policies. But beyond financial relief, this agreement ensures the continued viability of community pharmacies, a sentiment echoed by the Prime Minister and the Government at large.
Furthermore, pharmacies’ pivotal role in vaccinations cannot be overstated. With the inclusion of pharmacies in the National Immunisation Program, around 3,000 pharmacies have already signed up, offering flu and shingles vaccinations at no cost to eligible patients. This initiative, supported by the Commonwealth, underscores the integral role pharmacies play in healthcare delivery.
In conclusion, I’m immensely pleased with the early agreement reached with the Guild, setting a robust framework for the next five years and reinforcing the indispensable role of community pharmacies in our healthcare ecosystem.
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