This report finds that community pharmacy policy in Australia is controlled by pharmacy owners, and patients and taxpayers are losing out. Each year, community pharmacies dispense millions of scripts, give millions of vaccinations, and offer expert advice to most Australians, costing the federal government and patients almost $4 billion a year.

The report highlights that pharmacies are receiving substantial government funding and generating substantial profits. The combination of rising profits, opacity and regulatory capture warrants scrutiny. It identifies the many policies that benefit pharmacy owners at the expense of patients and taxpayers, and how to fix them.

Recommendations

1. Restore independent community pharmacy policy
2. Make dispensing fees simpler and fairer
3. Base pharmacy funding on cost and reasonable profits
4. End unfair protections and unleash competition
5. Safeguard competition and quality
6. Ensure pharmacy services are good value.

The report is provided with chart data.