The Pharmacy Guild has been accused of a blatant marketing campaign of misinformation after it claimed the Albanese Government was providing pharmacists $5,000 to seem in a brand new advert.
A casting name for cash-strapped pharmacists is providing $5,000 for “real” employees in chemists to seem in a brand new advert for “the Australian Government” has been revealing by a significant casting company.
Pharmacists say is about spruiking a two for one script deal.
“We are searching for actual PHARMACISTS and EXPERIENCED PHARMACY ASSISTANTS who live in Sydney or Canberra or Goulburn/Crookwell region, to feature in a series of photographs and video footage for the Australian Government Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS),’’ the casting call states.
“No professional acting experience is required. All cast will be paid $5,000 ea
“Filming and photography dates: 16 – 30 May 2023. (1 x 8 hr day) Applications close early May, 2023.”
As controversy rages over the adjustments that may save sufferers cash however are opposed by pharmacists, some chemists have began handing out materials attacking the Albanese Government over the adjustments.
But whereas a casting name has gone out for the advert – the Albanese Government is denying the advert has something to do with them.
“This is not a casting call for a Government advertising campaign,” a spokeswoman stated.
“The Government has not commissioned any advertising for its 60 day dispensing policy.
“This is another example of misinformation from the pharmacy lobby about a government policy which will deliver significant savings and cheaper medicines to more than 6 million patients across Australia.”
Previously, earlier than the Albanese authorities lowered the co-payment to $30 in January, sufferers had been paying $42.50 for one month’s provide.
But underneath the two-for-one deal, as an alternative of paying $85 for 2 scripts, sufferers buying eligible medicines can pay simply $30.
Concessional sufferers will now pay $7.30 per 60-day script.
Chemists oppose the financial savings arguing it may spark drugs shortages and short-change pharmacists.
The casting company organising the shoot does work for Home and Away, Underbelly, Wolf Creek and varied different films and TV.
The Pharmacy Guild is up in arms over the advertisements insisting it can in the end see chemists lose cash and will see sufferers face drugs shortages.
Pharmacy Guild NSW President David Heffernan attacked the expenditure and referred to as on the Health Minister Mark Butler to cancel the advertisements.
“Instead of wasting taxpayer money on TV ads and models to promote their policies, the Government should be investing in patients and community pharmacies,’’ he said.
“It’s a kick in the teeth that at the same time that the Government is ripping $3.5 billion out of community pharmacies and reducing patient care, that they’d use thousands of dollars of taxpayer money on shiny ads.
“There is a real cost of living crisis across our community and cheaper medicine, not promotional material, should be where taxpayer money is invested.
“We are calling on Mark Butler to cancel these ads and put the money into cheaper medicine for patients.”
Pharmacy Guild financial modelling, utilizing information offered by the Department of Health, claims the coverage will reduce $3.5 billion in affected person care to communities round Australia over the subsequent 4 years.
This $3.5 billion reduce is made up of a $1.2 billion saving to the Budget in Government shelling out charges, with neighborhood pharmacies anticipated to pay for an additional $2.3 billion in affected person charges for the coverage.
National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Trent Twomey stated the Government wanted to return $3.5 billion to neighborhood pharmacies or tens of millions of sufferers would miss out on care and medicines.
Australian Patients Association Dr Nick Coatsworth stated the financial savings in prices to shoppers had been a incredible consequence, but when that’s solely partly absorbed by authorities and handed on to pharmacies,
“We’re concerned about the implementation of this policy, and the detail is important. For example, currently, large numbers of drugs are in short supply, and these changes could lead to patients missing out on medications due to those shortages,’’ he said.
“Secondly, the experience of other countries suggests that we can expect increases of hoarding of drugs by consumers, increasing numbers of tablets being stored in cupboards, which coincides with increases in medication errors. Overflowing home medication cupboards is a safety hazard. Imagine the grandchildren coming around and getting into a cupboard with 450 pills in it” he stated.
Source: www.news.com.au
