An Australian parliamentary inquiry committee has said that supermarkets should not be allowed to move into the pharmacy market.
Pharmacy legislation in Australia is currently being reviewed under new national competition policy requirements. One of the issues under scrutiny is the current requirement that pharmacies be owned by pharmacists.
The committee said that the supermarket chains should note "widespread community and pharmaceutical industry concerns that the nature of the role played by pharmacists is unique as it relates to matters of public health." The committee took the view that expansion by the major chains into dispensing should be discouraged.
Commenting on the recommendation on August 31, the president of the Australian Pharmacy Guild (Mr John Bronger) said: "The committee has recognised that the system of community pharmacies in Australia is one of the best in the world and should not be changed. Having pharmacists as proprietors ensures that consumers are provided with the same access to quality health care pharmacy services no matter where they live."