Tuesday, 2 May 2023

Western Metropolitan Region

Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (14:15): (122) My question is for the Minister for Health. What action is the Minister for Health taking to assist my constituents with the new proposed 60-day dispensing period? The Albanese government has blindsided the pharmaceutical and small business community with this upcoming change to dispensing. The proposed 60-day dispensing period will have severe consequences for small business owners in the Western Metropolitan Region, with many members of the community writing to me strongly condemning this action by the Albanese government. While I appreciate this is a Commonwealth issue, I ask on behalf of my concerned constituents if the Minister for Health will advocate to her federal counterpart on behalf of me and many others in the pharmaceutical community. The increase in medication supply from 30- to 60-day dispensing will worsen the already alarming issue of medicine shortage, and the proposed change will only place further strain on existing supply. I desperately urge the Minister for Health to answer if she has taken any action to advocate to her federal counterpart the danger of the proposed change and to fight for my constituents.