“We’re in a messy phase,” right now as community pharmacy in rural areas is overwhelmed by shortages —of staff and medicines—and dealing with uncertainty around viability thanks to the 8CPA “limbo”

Echuca pharmacist in charge Shonae Zeman, who’s doing locum work after a year outside pharmacy, talks with the AJP Podcast’s host Carlene McMaugh about the key role of rural and regional pharmacies, and the risk of closure.

Zeman explains how rural pharmacy is adapting to manage the challenge of 60-day dispensing, with discussions of “Things like fee for service…price increases across the shop lines, reducing hours of opening of the pharmacy, reducing staff and also trying to monitor and minimise stock levels,” she says. “I think everyone’s a bit scared to pull the trigger and start increasing their prices.”

It’ll likely ramp up over the next “few waves” of medicines added to the list for 60-day dispensing, she says – and as negotiations for the 8CPA continue.

She’s concerned that pharmacists “don’t really know the narrative” and are left in “limbo” as they don’t know what’s happening – and it could be anything.

“If we do rely on all this government funding, and we get to the point where that is only really what’s keeping us afloat then if it’s pulled at any time, then how are businesses going to cope with that?

“Especially in rural pharmacy – the pharmacist is the main hub of the community, it’s people’s social outing for the day.

“The main concern for me is that pharmacies are going to struggle to stay open and be able to offer those services that we’ve been able to do so far.”

She said the biggest problem for rural communities is retaining staff – so she’s hopeful for incentives such as funding in the 8CPA to attract interns and other pharmacists.

There’s also the issue that “stock shortages are massive” and the time sink this represents – and the doctor shortage – “overwhelming” in Zeman’s words – is forcing pressure back onto pharmacists.

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