Will the sky fall in? Will pharmacists go broke? Will there be overdoses or will we see everyday Aussies fighting each other to get their hands on essential medicines?
Not likely. Despite the panic, and even the tears, the average health consumer will find not much has changed when they go to fill their script for some of the most common medications come 1 September.
The cause of all this alarm: a decision by health minister Mark Butler to simply allow consumers to collect two months’ worth of medicines at the pharmacy, rather than one month’s worth.
And in doing so he’s saving the average consumer $180 a year per medicine, and several times that if they have complex, chronic conditions that require multiple medicines. That’s money that can be spent on groceries or rent or school uniforms.
So, in the interests of reassuring everyone in the community, let’s address each of the alarm bells set off by the Pharmacy Guild, which has been called one of the strongest lobby groups in Australia.
1. There will be dire medicine shortages
This is very unlikely because current shortages due to the global pandemic were considered when the independent pharmaceutical benefits advisory committee (PBAC) determined which of the more than 300 medicines would be on the extra dispensing list. Given the long lead time between now and when the changes will be introduced (progressively from 1 September this year to 24 October), there is ample time to consider any changes and plan accordingly.
2. Safety risks as consumers will stockpile and potentially overdose
Again, the PBAC carefully considered the safety aspects of which drugs will be on the list. Some were left off because of potential risks of addiction or overdose but ultimately the decision to move to 60 days is a conversation that starts with a patient’s GP or other prescriber. In addition, all professional pharmacists will be alert to the risk of someone stockpiling, but if you can only dispense your script once every two months it would be hard to see how this would happen. Surely that risk exists now – even more so – with monthly dispensing? Likewise, any pharmacist worth their salt will ensure any meds they dispense will not expire within the two-month period.
3. Pharmacists will have to charge for services that are currently free
With the potential loss of foot traffic, local pharmacists say they will have to start charging for services that are now free, such as making up blister packs or doing home delivery. For many Australians, these services are not free now or they are subsidised by the high-profit margin many retail chemists make on all those cosmetics, vitamins and the like that they sell. Also, the government has said it will reinvest savings from this new scheme back into community pharmacies (though we don’t know how this will work yet). But you have to wonder: if your pharmacy can’t provide this personalised service, especially to the elderly, unwell or homebound, do they really have patient care at their core?
4. Pharmacies will close
Given the lead time and reinvestment, sudden closures of pharmacies based on what is known so far are unlikely. In our main cities, you only have to walk down any major retail strip to find three or more pharmacies. Where there is already a lack of community pharmacies is in the rural or remote areas. One consumer in far western Queensland told us this week her closest pharmacy is 100km away. The next closest is 400km away. So the government may well choose to use some of the reinvestment funds to support communities where an independent community pharmacy is essential, and look for creative solutions that might move away from the current standalone pharmacist-owned model. This could be a real gamechanger for people in the bush.
5. The world as we know it will end
Of course it won’t! Just as we have seen throughout the various stages of the pandemic, the overwhelming majority of health professionals will continue to adapt their service models and care for their patients. I’m sure most people would say the same for their community pharmacist. But there will be a time of adjustment for all, and the Consumers Health Forum looks forward to playing an active role in representing consumers in the scheme’s implementation.
• Dr Elizabeth Deveny is the chief executive of the Consumers Health Forum of Australia
