The Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland Branch has expressed major concerns about the proposal to reverse-list Chemist Warehouse on the Australian Securities Exchange via Sigma Healthcare Ltd.
Chris Owen, Queensland Branch President says it is incumbent on Queensland’s incoming Premier, the Hon Steven Miles MP and Queensland Health to ensure the interests of patients are not compromised, and the deal is compliant with existing pharmacy business ownership rules.
“We expect incoming Premier Miles to run a fine-tooth comb over each detail of this proposal, and to protect the ownership regulations that preserve patients’ health ahead of profits,” says Mr Owen.
Franchising can, and does, support many community pharmacies to provide healthcare to patients, but laws across Australia prevent non-pharmacists from holding a ‘financial’, ‘ownership’, or ‘proprietary’ interest in a pharmacy.
“Those rules guarantee that community pharmacies remain an essential layer of the health system. Community pharmacies provide accessible healthcare at a time when other healthcare providers are falling apart,” says Mr Owen.
Mr Owen goes on to say that Queensland Health must be wary of increased corporatisation in the community pharmacy sector.
“It is not in the interest of patients, or their communities, to have community pharmacies that put shareholders first.
“The language of those pushing this proposal is about a ‘unique opportunity” for ‘healthcare businesses’.
“The community pharmacy network does not accord with large, corporatised business models. Medicines are not ordinary items of commerce.
“Community pharmacy’s primary responsibility must remain to patients, not shareholders,” says Mr Owen.
