New 60-day prescription model came into effect on 1 September, and country pharmacists say they don’t know how they’ll survive the change
The Hunter family has no choice but to live by the hour.
Luckily, Smythesdale is home to its own independent pharmacy, so the family can pick up medication and seek advice. Nikita Hunter and her four-year-old daughter, Isla. Hunter says her country pharmacy treats her like ‘more than just a number’.This month, the federal government unrolled its new Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme dispensing policy, meaning customers can buy 60-days’ worth of medication for the cost of a single prescription.. While some of Isla’s medications are listed as part of the scheme, Hunter says there are other more expensive ones which are not, including those she requires for the boys.
Smythesdale pharmacy’s pharmacist Briddon Hardwick says pharmacies may need to increase the price of services such as medication packs and over-the-counter medicines in order to make up the lost revenue.“A more concerning change could be that the pharmacy would have to reduce hours and cut staff to remain viable,” he says. “This would see vulnerable patients without a community pharmacy and would lead to negative health impacts.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New laws will give Australians the right to sue for ‘serious’ breaches of privacyChildren to be given extra protection but rejection of right for adults to opt out of targeted ads likely to disappoint consumer rights advocates
Read more »
Concerns over new virus projected to outpace COVID in New South WalesA potentially fatal respiratory virus called hMPV is spreading in New South Wales and is likely to outpace influenza and COVID-19 this spring. Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) can cause upper and lower respiratory disease in people of all ages and can become particularly fatal in children under the age of five and people with weakened immune systems. New South Wales Health detected around 1,168 cases last week but infection numbers are likely to be underestimated as people may not seek to get PCR tested. Over the past two weeks, hMPV cases rose from 640 to 1,168, a trajectory set to outpace COVID-19. Senior Medical Virologist Professor William Rawlinson says late winter and early spring is the usual time health experts tend to see an increase in Human metapneumovirus cases. 'We're seeing more spread, less masks, so the spread is occurring, and this is the usual time of the year we do see hMPV, or RSV and other respiratory viruses,” he told Sky News Australia.
Read more »
Noel Pearson says Voice would give Indigenous Australians 'responsibility for our destiny'Voting Yes on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament would 'empower our people' to combat disadvantage, Pearson said during a National Press Club address.
Read more »
‘Absolute class’: Glenn Maxwell’s career-best haul gives Australians one less World Cup headache‘Absolute class’: X-factor’s career-best haul gives Aussies one less World Cup headache
Read more »
Young Australians could turn the tide to make the voice a realityHistory shows us referendums are tough. But the more progressive, issues-based under-40s might just make this one the groundbreaker
Read more »
Even recent history shows why Indigenous Australians need a VoiceVoting Yes will be a national commitment to listening, dialogue and partnership, in contrast to the failed top-down approaches of the past.
Read more »