The Pharmacy Guild of Australia welcomes the signing of the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement, which underpins the timely and equitable provision of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines for all Australians over the next five years.

Commencing on 1 July 2015, the Agreement recognises community pharmacy as an integral part of the Australian health care system. The Agreement enables Australia’s 5,450 community pharmacies and their staff to continue meeting the health care needs of their patients.

The Agreement encompasses pharmacy remuneration for dispensing PBS and RPBS subsidised medicines; wholesaler remuneration including the Community Service Obligation; the Pharmacy Location Rules; and Professional Programs and Services.

The National President of the Guild, George Tambassis, said: “At all times in negotiating this Agreement with the Commonwealth, the Guild’s goal has been to achieve the certainty and security that community pharmacies need to continue delivering quality health care for patients, dispensing PBS medicines, providing professional services, and employing staff.”

As the Agreement states, the Guild and the Commonwealth have a common interest in promoting the sustainability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the PBS, as well as in the viability of an effective community pharmacy sector.

Key features of the Agreement include:

• A new Administration, Handling and Infrastructure (AHI) Fee, which will mean pharmacies will be less susceptible to the ongoing impact of price disclosure. Dispensing remuneration will be indexed to Consumer Price Index
• Nearly double the previous Agreement investment in community pharmacy programs and services.
• Five years of certainty for community pharmacies in relation to dispensary remuneration and Location Rules. The Government has committed to legislating to extend the Location Rules until mid-2020, with an independent review to be conducted during the Agreement to inform future arrangements.

For more details, go to: http://www.guild.org.au/news-page/2015/05/26/sixth-community-pharmacy-agreement-delivers-for-patients