Cross-party support in lead-up to election

The major parties have stated their unequivocal support for pharmacy.

IN THE final stages of the election campaign, each party sent a letter to Pharmacy Guild of Australia members, supporting a continuation of current ownership structures, opposing co-location of pharmacies in supermarkets, and backing an expanded primary health role for pharmacists.

In the Coalition's letter the Prime Minister, John Howard, drew attention to the strong relationship between his government and the Pharmacy Guild during negotiations for the agreements.

"The negotiations between the government and the profession have been necessarily robust from time to time; however, I believe that the overall results including the successful conclusion of the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement and the PBS reform process is a testament to the strength of this relationship. Both of these important initiatives will derive certainty and stability for the profession over years to come," Mr Howard wrote.

For their part Labor leader, Kevin Rudd, and his shadow health minister, Nicola Roxon, acknowledged the disruption and uncertainty that pharmacy had faced recently.

"Finally, federal Labor realises that pharmacists have faced substantial instability over recent years, in the face of several reviews and industry restructuring...we recognise that pharmacists need more certainty in the immediate future to allow them to build on the progress made so far and ensure the long term stability of the sector," the Labor letter read.

The letter also endorsed cognitive services.

"We are especially keen to see the kind of chronic disease initiatives supported by the current agreement continue and develop into the future … Pharmacists, for example, can help play an important role in helping people to manage medication when they leave hospital. Federal Labor is keen to work with pharmacists to explore initiatives to improve continuity of care."

Mark Vaile, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Nationals, committed the Coalition to opposing pharmacy co-location and supported pharmacy ownership by pharmacists.

"I can confirm once more that under a Coalition government, pharmacies will never be permitted in supermarkets. Equally I would like to reconfirm our firm support for the PBS and my belief that it leads the world in delivering equitable access to affordable health products and professional health advice."

The Greens also saw a wider role for pharmacy.

"Community pharmacies are in the position to be able to capture populations who are not motivated to use other health services, so there are also significant opportunities to use pharmacy as a setting in which to change community health behaviours," the letter from Greens leader, Senator Bob Brown, said.

"We do not believe that supermarkets are suitable places for the conduct of pharmacy," Democrats leader, Senator Lyn Allison, wrote to pharmacists.

"It is our view supermarkets would soon drive community pharmacies out of existence, reducing pharmacy practice to the retail function no more than any other household product," she said.

The Pharmacy Guild national president, Kos Sclavos, told Pharmacy News that the cross-party support had been earned by the profession.

"The leadership role that the Guild has played in PBS reform hasn't gone unnoticed, and I think our role is acknowledged by Government and opposition alike, and is demonstrated in these correspondences.

"Importantly for those young pharmacists thinking about investing in our profession, there is no better time, given the strong support from all parties for not only keeping pharmacy in the hands of pharmacists but ensuring they are not co-located within supermarkets," Mr Sclavos said.

22-Nov-2007