Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

To move:

That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 June 2012:

A review of the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia under the National Health Act 1953, with particular reference to:

  (a)   pharmacy remuneration and value for taxpayer funds;

  (b)   the effective provision of professional and patient services;

  (c)   the effectiveness of governance arrangements;

  (d)   the Community Service Obligation;

  (e)   the Pharmacy Location Rules;

  (f)   the Community Pharmacy Agreement (CPA) processes involving a single entity, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia:

     (i)   being granted the status as the sole organisation representing registered pharmacists,

     (ii)   negotiating the CPA with the Commonwealth,

     (iii)   overseeing the operation of the CPA, through the two-party Agreement Consultative Committee (ACC),

     (iv)   approving allocation and expenditure of funds under the CPA, through the two-party ACC, and

     (v)   negotiating pharmacy location and ownership rules;

  (g)   potential conflicts of interest between the provision of ethical and professional pharmacy services and the commercial interests of pharmacy owners; and

  (h)   other matters related to the role played by pharmacists in the health system.