Nat Traeger, the CEO of the Kingston SE Council in regional South Australia, appeared on the Country Viewpoint program this week to air her position on the current state of the viability for rural pharmacies in Australia.
It comes off the back of other regional and remote pharmacy proprietors speaking out on Flow FM about a recent government announcement relating to the future viability for their operating models, stating that their businesses are now delicately poised with changes being implemented to dispensary procedures for patients based in isolated parts of the country.
"Convenience can quickly turn to crisis when you're left without accessible health care in your community and that is a real and present threat in Kingston," Traeger said.
"We do have a pharmacy here and they are a five and a half day outfit, so working on weekends as well which is really well appreciated by our community, but they've already announced hour cuts...looking at at least two and a half hours per week to be cut should this policy proceed."
Two rural pharmacy proprietors condemned the latest government policy on rural pharmacy operations.
Ben Brndusic from the TerryWhite Chemmart in Urana and Ian Magill, the owner of an isolated Tasmanian pharmacy, both criticised the lack of communication from the government as well as viability concerns which could result in staff layoffs and changes to services.
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