12 NEWS
12 NEWS
2 JUNE 2023 ausdoc . com . au
Guild : Butler doesn ’ t give a shit
Professor Trent Twomey .
Carmel Sparke IF there were any doubts about how hard pharmacists have fought the introduction of 60-day dispensing and how much they care , these were wiped away in an emotional press conference by the leader of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia .
President Professor Trent Twomey battled tears as he described the plight of young pharmacists facing
Treat and prevent flares
with steroid-free Elidel ® * 1 ( pimecrolimus ) bankruptcy because of the move , accusing the federal Minister for Health and Aged Care , Mark Butler , of “ not giving a shit ”.
He claimed the banks would now “ just pull the rug out from under them ” owing to lost revenue from dispensing fees — a result of the Federal Government ’ s plan to reduce unnecessary costs for patients needing repeat scripts .
“ It ’ s been a really difficult week ; I ’ ve had a lot of members ring ,” Professor Twomey told reporters after the reforms were announced .
“ I had one young woman this morning in her 30s , single mum , she got her dad to put up their house as equity to buy her first pharmacy ,” he said , as he struggled with his composure .
“ She will be bankrupt .”
He also described how a 28-year-old newly married young man had put his recently purchased home up as security to buy his first pharmacy .
“ He ’ s in Victoria . He ’ s now bankrupt . It ’ s been a really tough week .”
Mr Butler said he would roll out a 60-day dispensing option for 325 common medications over the coming year .
The move was originally recommended by the PBAC in 2018 but was not adopted — after lobbying by the guild against the Turnbull Government .
The guild referred to modelling suggesting that the move would cost pharmacies $ 2.3 billion over four years .
The government said 60-day prescribing could save $ 1.2 billion , and it would reinvest the cash back into the pharmacy sector .
“ This is a $ 3.5 billion cut , of which he only wants to give back $ 1.2 because that ’ s what the taxpayer is funding ,” Professor Twomey 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 he [ Mr Butler ] just doesn ’ t seem to give a shit .
“ If those spin doctors down
‘ The pharmacist is wearing it , and Mark Butler doesn ’ t seem to give a shit .’
A steroid-free treatment for atopic dermatitis in patients aged 3 months and older 1
Private script price : 2 15 g tube approx . $ 30 30 g tube approx . $ 60
* Elidel ® is indicated for atopic dermatitis in patients aged 3 months and older for short term treatment of signs and symptoms , and intermittent long-term treatment of emerging and resolving lesions in atopic dermatitis where the use of a topical corticosteroid is not yet warranted , no longer needed , or is inadvisable . 1
PBS Information : Authority required ( STREAMLINED ) for 15 g tube . Refer to PBS Schedule for full authority information . The 30 g tube is not listed on the PBS .
Before prescribing : Please review approved Approved Product Information by scanning the QR code or phone 1800 274 276 .
References : 1 . Elidel ® Product Information . Date of revision 21 / 02 / 2022 . 2 . Data on file , Viatris recommended retail price . March 2022 .
Elidel ® is a Viatris Company Trademark . Copyright © 2023 Viatris Inc . All rights reserved . Viatris Pty Ltd , Level 1 , 30 The Bond , 30 – 34 Hickson Road , Millers Point NSW , 2000 . ABN 29 601 608 771 . Australia Toll free : 1800 314 527 . ELI-2022-0556 . DH . ELI-003632-00 / AD . Date of preparation : February 2023 .
Initiate Elidel ® cream at the first sign of itching to prevent progression to flares 1
Pimecrolimus 10mg / g ( 1 % w / w )
® there [ in Parliament ] don ’ t want to believe what I ’ ve got to say , get off your arse and go and talk to these guys [ pharmacists ].”
“ I ’ ve had Labor Party senators and MPs just take their phones off the hook because they don ’ t give a shit .”
Professor Twomey apologised for swearing , 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 .”
He also predicted a Hunger Games – style battle over medication shortages and urged the AMA leadership to stick to delivering babies .
“ I ’ ve heard a couple of obstetricians come out and say it ’ s a good idea ,” Professor Twomey said on the Today show , in apparent reference to AMA president Dr Steve Robson .
“ I ’ d love them to stick to looking after babies , or if they want , they can come and spend a day in my dispensary and look at the pages upon pages of out-of-stocks .”