Hunt(ing) for a solution to out of pocket costs.

The Department of Health is working to ensure patients impacted by bushfires in NSW and Victoria are not left out of pocket when accessing Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listed medicines under emergency measures. 

Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, George Tambassis, said the organisation was aware that Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, had been working with his department to resolve the issue, and follows calls from both the Guild and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia to cut patient costs during the crisis.

“It is likely this will be achieved through a temporary expansion of the range of medicines that can be supplied under the existing continued dispensing arrangements,” Tambassis said. 

“We thank the Government for this commitment to address this matter urgently for the benefit of patients.”

The news follows state and territory authorities in NSW, Victoria and the ACT announcing emergency dispensing orders, allowing pharmacists to dispense full quantities of PBS medicines to patients in need, during the ongoing crisis. 

Victorian Health Minister, Jenny Mikakos, told followers on Twitter that the Federal Government was seeking to alleviate the financial pressures patients affected by the bushfires are under through an emergency measure.

An official announcement is expected to be made later today.

See Monday’s edition of Pharmacy Daily for more.

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