Pharmacists are calling on Scott Morrison to urgently provide them with more rapid tests and personal protective equipment, warning they are at “breaking point”.
More than six million Australians are now eligible to receive 10 free rapid antigen tests over a three-month period, but supply shortages have caused chaos across the country.
The government’s handling of the situation has been branded as “reckless and negligent” by Professionals Pharmacists Australia.
“The federal government’s announcement that RATs would be freely available for six million pensioners and concession cardholders, without providing adequate logistical support to ensure pharmacies had access to these tests, was reckless and negligent,” chief executive Geoff March said.
The frustration is also felt by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, who have warned some pharmacies are taking a loss due to the scheme.
“If the government wants to improve accessibility they can improve the time frame they reimburse pharmacies. At the moment the government won’t be making the first payments until the end of February,” President Trent Twomey told the Guardian.
“Many small pharmacies can’t afford to wait this long.”
The tests cost $17.50, but the government’s reimbursement sits at $10.
As the children vaccination program ramps up, the pharmacy guild has also warned about a critical shortage of PPE for pharmacists.
“Yet again the federal government has failed to adequately plan and organise the supply of essential equipment to prevent the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of Covid-19,” Dr March said.
“Phaxjmtzywrmacists are working hard to roll out vaccination boosters and children’s vaccination before the return to school but can’t do their jobs properly and safely without access to adequate PPE.”
