The Guild does not see the policy problem the government is seeking to address by proposing the removal of the majority pharmacist pharmacy-ownership restrictions.
There are currently no issues with New Zealanders accessing high-quality, cost-effective community pharmacy services with our current regulations.
We see the proposed changes are based on a flawed policy rationale, including that it will:
- increase access – open ownership has instead led to reduced access overseas, with more than 750 pharmacy closures in the UK in the past four years.
- better support more integrated services – this is driven by other factors such as service commissioning, regulations, scope of practice changes, and workforce education.
- increase competition – the opposite has occurred in the UK, Europe, and the US – big community pharmacy chains control the market. However, these same chains are leaving unprofitable rural and deprived areas unserved.
- increase quality – this is not supported by the increased pharmacist workloads experienced in deregulated countries, and the diminished pharmacist role in the effective control of community pharmacy practice.
- reduce regulation – costs will instead likely increase due to complexity and blurred lines of accountability, with increased conflicts between professional and commercial interests.
- improved workforce management – the increased pharmacist workloads from an increased focus on sales and profits from non-pharmacist owners will only amplify the significant workforce pressures already being felt acutely across New Zealand.
We see the proposed changes would take our sector in the wrong direction.
The vital and growing role for community pharmacy to help keep people healthy and well in their communities is at risk with these proposed policy changes.