Australiaâs medical and health care system is unlike most others overseas. Any comparisons might also need to find similar starting points for political alignments, demographics and regulatory environments.
I appreciate the reference to the Grattan Institutes recommendations.
As our experiences are predominantly small community it was reassuring to note the GIâs recommendations included:
First, We recommend that the pharmacy location rules be lifted in Urban Areas. ⊠Rural Areas are unlikely to benefit from this deregulation and should be exempt from it.
In recommending removal of restrictions on ownership The GIâs recommendation is not without reservation:
Second, We recommend cautious removal of the pharmacy ownership rules⊠International experience shows, however, that the savings from liberalisation are unlikely to be shared with consumers and government if removing the ownership rules leads to extreme concentration of ownership, as has occurred in some countries.
This says the outcome is not assured?
Chemist Warehouse is arguing for the changes. Cynically, doubtless to enable expansion in an unfettered market. What odds in a deregulated future CW might become a major donor to both sides of the Houses of Parliament?
The prize is with the PBS, an assured income stream, and more importantly captive consumers.
Are CW in calling for removal of regulation of the dispensing fees/costs (saying they can save one dollar per script) also opening a door to charge more, in particular where there is only one local pharmacy?
In seeking to lower the on costs in the supply of regulated pharmaceuticals is there a Bunnings styled future or something different? Cities dominated by Bunnings while regional areas are left to Small Mitre10âs with high markups and narrowed choices?