Deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley has warned rural and regional Australians are set to miss out under the government's cheaper medicine policy, saying more attention should be paid to claims local pharmacies could be forced to close.
Speaking to Sky News Australia on Sunday, Ms Ley repeated warnings from the Pharmacy Guild that many local practices could be forced to close under the new policy, leaving many people in rural and regional areas worse off.
Members of the Pharmacy Guild have been speaking out against the changes for months, warning it could put them out of business. Picture: Nikki Shortthe policy could result in more than 20,000 job losses across the industryThe Guild has also claimed it could result in medicine shortages as practices struggle to match increased demand.Health Minister Mark Butler saying only seven medications out of the more than 300 covered under the policy were actually experiencing shortages.
Concerns the policy would bankrupt pharmacies primarily rests on the fact the dispensing fee of $7.82 and the maximum $30 general patient co-payment would be paid every two months rather than monthly. Speaking after the Senate scuffle, Senator Ruston said the opposition hoped Mr Butler would"get back to the table to resolve these legitimate concerns," over the changes.
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