The Federal Government’s plan to increase medication dispensing for some drugs from 30 to 60 days to alleviate cost-of-living pressures could have negative implications for aged care.
The proposed change will worsen existing medication shortages of 400 drugs, meaning people could miss out on receiving vital medicines, according to Matthew Tweedie, Branch Director with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
There are already shortages for medications for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, depression, anxiety, osteoporosis, and Parkinson’s Disease.
The change will also impact pharmacy businesses and could lead to staff cuts – which in turn could impact the services delivered to residential aged care, such as medication packaging, and after-hours and weekend services.
Pharmacies may also be forced to close.
The proposed change could “endanger lives,” Matthew said.
The Pharmacy Guild believes the Government should reduce the general PBS patients co-payment to $19 to alleviate cost-of-living pressures.
