Be patient with RATs

PENSIONERS are among more than 1.6 million Victorian concession card holders eligible for free rapid antigen tests from Monday.

But Victorian Pharmacy Guild president Anthony Tassone is pleading for the public to be patient, saying most pharmacies do not have any stock.

“They’re not expecting to have stock until the very end of the month or possibly into February,” Mr Tassone said.

“Pharmacies have been on the receiving end of the frustrations of members of the public with regard to the lack of available rapid antigen tests.

“We do hope that the public is as understanding as possible.”

Around 16 million tests are expected across the network before the end of January, with a further 33 million to arrive in the first three weeks of February. Access to subsidised rapid antigen tests was prompted by concerns about the cost for some of Australia’s most vulnerable residents.

Under the program, concession card holders will be eligible for 10 tests over the next three months, with a maximum of five tests a month.

Those eligible for the free tests include people with a pensioner concession card, commonwealth seniors health care card, Department of Veterans’ Affairs gold, white or orange card, health care card or low income health card.

Pharmacies will be reimbursed $10 plus GST for each test, as well as an administration fee of $4.30 per transaction

Earlier this month, it was revealed that pharmacies would have to source their own rapid antigen test supplies to give to concession card holders.

Although not all pharmacies have signed up to the program, Mr Tassone said those that had were giving a lot of thought to how they could balance the stock holding to make some available to concession card holders.

Some pharmacies have also sourced extra tests directly from manufacturers, instead of wholesalers.

Federal Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler on Sunday accused Scott Morrison of failing to deliver the free rapid antigen tests promised to six million eligible Australians.

“Australia’s pensioners and pharmacies will be left high and dry by another failure by Scott Morrison to just do his job,” Mr Butler said.

The Prime Minister last week defended the decision not to supply pharmacies with the at-home tests, saying the federal government was not nationalising pharmacies.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is planning to provide a list of all pharmacies providing rapid antigen testing for concession card holders via its website.