King urges review input

STEVEN King, the chair of the Review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation, has reiterated a call for the pharmacy sector to provide submissions on its recently released interim report “to ensure that your views on the reform options are conveyed to the Panel”.

In an update issued yesterday, King noted that since the report was released, the Panel has met with a number of peak bodies and industry stakeholders, including the Guild, PSA, Consumers Health Forum, Professional Pharmacists Australia, National Pharmaceutical Services Association and Chemist Warehouse.

“These meetings were very helpful to the Panel’s understanding of the potential implications of the reform options put forward in our Interim Report,” he said, with each group providing feedback on issues of particular concern to each group.

King said written submissions on the interim report could be lodged up to 23 Jul 2017 online at consultations.health.gov.au.

“We remain committed to developing the best recommendations for the future of pharmacy in Australia that are evidence-based and robust,” he said.

MEANWHILE the update coincided with the release of four reports from consultancies commissioned as part of the Review, including consumer market research (see side panel at right) into the experiences of Australian consumers and pharmacists in relation to the access and affordability of medicines through community pharmacy in Australia.

There is also a Pharmacy Financial Survey Research Report (see side panel at left) and a &inancial Analysis of Pharmacy Remuneration which summarises financial analysis and modelling work undertaken by RSM Australia including costs flowing through the pharmacy supply chain - see health.gov.au.