Australian patients and taxpayers will contribute more than $25 billion over five years under the new Community Pharmacy Agreement yet consumers have little effective say in this central part of the health system.
The Consumers Health Forum is disappointed that the new Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement between the Federal Government and pharmacy owners has failed to give more weight to proposals for greater input from consumers and more transparency and deregulation to better meet community interests, the CEO, Leanne Wells, said.
The Agreement was announced on 12 June and made public on 19 June.
“Pharmacies are the most common point of contact between consumers and the health system, yet the Government and the Pharmacy Guild have declined to accept a place for the consumers at negotiations for the agreement.
“For the first time, the Agreement includes the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia as a signatory which is welcome broadening of input. The new agreement does include provision for the government to involve CHF in consultations, but this is well short of the ideal we sought.
“CHF has recommended reforms to place pharmacy on a more consumer-responsive basis including clearer information on medicine pricing and services offered as well as separating payments for professional services from the rest of the agreement.
“The response to these proposals has been minimal.
