The negotiations for the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement may have been brought forward but the Community and Pharmacy Support (CAPS) Group’s spokesperson Emil Demyane said, “CAPS will only rest once the agreement is in a form where the government meets three criteria”. CAPS is demanding that patients get access to affordable medications; the highly-skilled pharmacy personnel receive job security; and the 8CPA provides pharmacy owners with an agreement that maintains viability, including their responsibilities to financiers. “If these highly achievable requirements do not occur, CAPS will take further measures to raise awareness and highlight the policy’s shortcomings to the Australian public,” Demyane asserted. CAPS stated that the material change to the 7CPA without regard to the pharmacy industry is a “catastrophic move” by the government, “destroying confidence” in the sector, leading to either a community pharmacy winding up or increasing prices. “As expected by CAPS, the 60 Day Dispensing policy is not achieving its advertised objectives, which is half-price medication and freeing up GP appointments.” He added that the CAPS peaceful protests had received widespread support from various stakeholders including patients, pharmacy staff, doctors, healthcare professionals, politicians, and the public. “This support is grounded in the simple fact that CAPS is unwavering in its pursuit of equitable healthcare for all Australians. “CAPS aims to provide cheaper medicines for all patients, not just some,” Demyane added. Following the peaceful rally of 2,800 pharmacists and pharmacy staff organised by CAPS in Canberra (PD 04 Sep), the group has written to the Prime Minister about the organisation’s required outcomes for this campaign, he explained. “The objectives are aligned to the organisation’s goals to protect patients and customers, secure pharmacy industry jobs and maintain the viability of the community pharmacy industry. “We would expect that the Prime Minister would provide a reply to this letter in a reasonable ‘businesslike’ time frame. “We also call on the government to stop its campaign to discredit the pharmacy industry through labelling us ‘liars’, scaremongers and ‘fearmongers’,” he added.

Understanding the need for a workable solution, CAPS also emphasised the urgency for industry certainty. Without it, CAPS stated it will continue advocating for cheaper medicines, industry staff, and family-owned pharmacies, with the possibility of further actions as required. JG