A leading figure representing Australian pharmacists has choked back tears while issuing a foul-mouthed spray against the government over its new drug script policy.
Controversial Australian Pharmacy Guild president Trent Twomey, who was previously criticised for his views on Covid-19, said Health Minister Mark Butler ‘doesn’t seem to give a s***’.
Mr Butler announced on Wednesday that patients will be able to buy double their supply of some prescription medicines from next January.
The rule change will see 325 drugs dispensed in 60-day doses instead of the current 30 days, a move Mr Twomey said will send some pharmacies bankrupt.
Speaking at Parliament House in Canberra, Mr Twomey told government MPs to ‘get off your a***’ and talk to pharmacists, who he said would have to cut staff, reduce hours and slash services due to losing $170,000 each year under the change.
Health Minister Mark Butler (pictured) announced on Wednesday that patients will be able to buy double their supply of some prescription medicines from next January
The government will save $1.2billion over four years in dispensing fees, with Mr Butler promising all that money would be directly reinvested in community pharmacies to help them offer more services.
‘I don’t pretend this is going to be easy for community pharmacy,’ Mr Butler said on Wednesday.
‘I value the work that they do enormously and that is why we have phased this in over this year and next year.’
But Mr Twomey said pharmacists will still lose out from out-of-pocket patient fees, which the Pharmacy Guild estimates at $2.3billion over four years compared with the government’s figure of $1.6billion.
‘They’re not refunding that,’ he said. ‘The pharmacist is wearing the complete rest of the cut.
‘And that’s what’s going to send these guys to the wall. And (Mr Butler) just doesn’t seem to give a s***.’
Mr Twomey then apologised for his language, saying: ‘I’m a North Queenslander. I don’t mean to swear, but they just don’t care.
‘You know, this is supposed to be a government that cares. This is not how one operates.’
The 60-day script policy was recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and endorsed by doctor’s groups and the Consumer Health Forum (CHF), which said it will save patients up to $180 per year on each medicine.
‘This is a really good move which shows the government is listening to the voices of consumers,’ CHF’s chief executive Elizabeth Deveny said.
‘Every dollar saved at the pharmacy is money that can be spent on groceries or rent.’
Australia’s Pharmacy Guild president Trent Twomey (pictured) choked back tears while issuing a foul-mouthed spray against the government over its new drug script policy
Mr Twomey also warned of medicine shortages and said Mr Butler made ‘false claims’ when he said only seven medicines currently had supply problems.
The Minister said he wanted to ‘caution against some of the scare campaigns being put by the pharmacy lobby group’ as he rejected claims of widespread supply issues.
He said only seven drugs out of a list of 325 were in short supply and they were being closely monitored by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
‘We have deliberately decided to phase in these arrangements over the course of this year and next year, so pharmacists are able to change their itinerary arrangements,’ Mr Butler said.
The Opposition has backed the Pharmacy Guild, saying it wants to see more information about the changes.
But Mr Butler said the Coalition should support this ‘important cost-of-living measure that’s good for hip pockets and good for Australians’ health’.
‘Perhaps no-one will be surprised that (Opposition leader Peter) Dutton, given the choice between backing patients or backing profit, has yet again decided to leave patients out in the cold,’ he said.
In January, 2022, Mr Twomey said then would be a good time to get Covid-19 and admitted he no longer made his children wear facemasks.
He said then would be the most ‘convenient’ time to contract the virus in order to fit his family’s schedule.
Australians will soon be able to buy 60 days worth of prescription medication at once, for the same price as a 30-day supply
‘There is no good time to get Covid, but if my family have to catch it, now would be a good time,’ he said.
Chris Moy, the then-vice president of the Australian Medical Association, slammed Mr Twomey’s remarks for setting a bad example.
‘I don’t believe this is responsible, both from the point of view of the overall public health perspective, but also from a point of view of setting an example,’ Dr Moy said.
‘Suits us is not the same thing as suiting the entire community effort.’
