Dear Students,





The announcement on 1st August 2013 by the Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek that the price disclosure process for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will be accelerated, will have major effects on the jobs of all students and members of the Sydney University Pharmacy Association.





The measures that will be introduced by the Commonwealth Government, without consultation with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, will affect the bottom line of already struggling community pharmacies – making it unviable for them to run many essential health services, affecting the health outcomes of patients. From aged care services and home delivery, to bowel cancer screening and blood pressure monitoring and so many other programs – pharmacies will not be able to afford the resources and staff to maintain these services.





This will include the need to cut up to 5000 community pharmacy jobs – affecting Pharmacists, Students Pharmacists, Interns and Assistants, which will not only impact the families of thousands of people in the industry but the ability for pharmacies to continue to provide first class primary healthcare in Australia.

Standing up for the survival of community pharmacy is not only to protect our own livelihoods – but to protect the very commitments we made from the moment we began our studies – to use our expertise in medication and healthcare to provide the best health outcomes for the Australian people through the provision of a variety of health services.





I encourage you to support The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and pharmacies across Australia, and sign the Petition that will be circulating at Sydney University Pharmacy Association events and at our office.





Yours sincerely,





Aryan Shahabi-Sirjani

Vice President

Sydney University Pharmacy Association