The Nationals have successfully helped to obtain an extra $3 billion in funding for Australian pharmacies, in a deal struck between pharmacists and the Labor Government, following changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which included 60-day dispensing.
Member for Flynn, Colin Boyce said the ‘peace deal’ would help regional, rural, and remote communities and those set to be most impacted, with the funding to be given over five years from July.
It comes after The Nationals protested and launched media blitz campaigns against Labor’s doubling of prescription timeframes, which was announced in last year’s Budget.
Mr Boyce said Labor’s ill-thought-out changes to the PBS were always going to have unintended consequences in Flynn.
“The Nationals are pleased with this outcome, after standing shoulder to shoulder with our pharmacists in Flynn,” Mr Boyce said.
“The Nationals are proud to back our regional pharmacists, which, in many cases, are the last line for access to health and healthcare for local families.
“The PBS changes were an example of the Labor Government’s failure to understand the essential needs of every day regional Australians and the consequences of 60-day dispensing.
“Labor did not think through the ramifications for regional, rural, and remote Australia, which leads to community pharmacies struggling to stock the medicine required.
“The Nationals will always fight for the needs of regional Australia, especially when it comes to health.”
