On 17 August 2023, the Community And Pharmacy Support (CAPS) group – a group of approximately 150 individual pharmacies, pharmacists, interns and pharmacy students – will “walk for awareness” to bring attention to the impact that the 60-Day Dispensing (60DD) legislation will have on local pharmacies and most importantly, their patients.
The Federal Labor Government’s 60DD legislation will have a deep and negative impact on thousands of local pharmacies, said CAPS in a recently released statement and that 60DD was designed and delivered without consultation with the pharmacy sector.
A representative for the CAPS group, Emil Demyane says pharmacists want to be able to deliver cheaper medicine for all Australians but without closing down pharmacies and robbing people of essential services.
“We ask that the government pause the 60-day dispensing until a new Community Pharmacy Agreement can be implemented,” says Mr Demyane.
“A better solution would be for the government to halve the co-payment cost so every citizen of the country has a fair go. A policy that helps a few Australians, is funded by their fellow citizens, and destroys a respected profession is definitely not a fair policy.
“As it stands, the only way for pharmacies to survive the cuts will be to charge for currently free services, reduce staff levels and open fewer hours. This will hurt patients and communities.”
The rally will occur in Sydney on 17 August, beginning at Town Hall station and concluding at Martin Place.
CAPS is an independent group of NSW pharmacists.
