TWC backs BUPA deal

TERRYWHITE Chemmart says patients’ safety and wellbeing are central to the services its pharmacists will provide to members of BUPA Health Insurance, responding to harsh criticism of the deal from the Australian Medical Association (PD 28 Jun).

Under the partnership, announced in Mar, BUPA clients who have the Health Benefit Package, will be able pay an annual subscription to receive in-pharmacy health checks, flu vaccinations and pharmacist health consultations.

“All health services will be administered by qualified and trained pharmacists within their scope of practice in accordance with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA)’s Professional Practice Standards,” a spokesperson for TWC said.

“TerryWhite Chemmart pharmacists work closely with GPs and other allied health providers in their community for better patient health outcomes, including providing significant referral pathways to GPs.”

The AMA National President, Tony Bartone, has described the partnership as a “crass commercialisation of primary health care,” adding it was inappropriate to deliver “health checks in busy retail environments, many of which promote dangerous, unproven alternative medicines and therapies”.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia Victorian Branch President, Anthony Tassone, accused the AMA of “dog whistling” then he suggested that pharmacists would conduct health checks in an open part of the store.

“News flash @amapresident pharmacies have these things called ‘consultation rooms’, where they can deliver services and maintain patient privacy (like vaccinations that you didn’t want us to do either),” Tassone said on Twitter last week.