CWH would welcome “Colesworth”

DISCOUNT Pharmacy group, Chemist Warehouse (CWH), claims the Pharmacy Loca on Rules are stymieing compe on and it would welcome the entry of supermarket giants Coles and Woolworth’s into the market.

The discounter’s Chief Opera ng Officer, Mario Tascone, told The Age, the current Pharmacy Loca on Rules were outdated and put “handcuffs” on the group’s ability to compete.

“It’s the only protected industry in Australia and in the year 2019, these rules make no sense,” he said.

“We’d like the Government to allow pharmacies to discount the [Pharmaceu cal Benefits Scheme (PBS)] co‐payment to whatever level they want.”

Tascone voiced his support for deregula ng the community pharmacy sector, allowing supermarkets and overseas groups to establish pharmacies in Australia.

“It will be highly compe ve

[if this happened], like any other industry, and the customer wins,” he said.

A Pharmacy Guild of Australia spokesperson dismissed Tascone’s push to dismantle the rules.

“Chemist Warehouse claims to be wearing handcuffs, and yet they appear to have flourished under the current regula ons,” the spokesperson said.

Guild Na onal President, George Tambassis, added the rules allowed for new pharmacies to be established “where there is a community need”.

“Modern community pharmacies in Australia are part of the health system – the things they do for pa ents across medica on management and health advice and screening do not belong in Aisle 8 of a supermarket, or next to the alcohol or cigareEes that they sell,” he said.

“Where prices are not fixed under the PBS, there is strong compe on and consumers are able to take advantage of this – and they do.

“Pharmacy regula on has also not prevented the prolifera on of discount model pharmacies – Chemist Warehouse is proof of that.”