THE federal government should make rapid antigen tests (RATs) free and available to all, says Professional Pharmacists Australia, which represents employee pharmacists. 

“We should be protecting the health and safety of all workers and their families, not just those who can afford to buy the tests,” CEO Jill McCabe said today (January 4).

“We represent the vast majority of pharmacists in Australia – employee pharmacists – and we’re calling on the federal government to act urgently and provide the tests free to all given the surge in cases and the change in testing regimes.

“The virus hasn’t changed just because the federal government’s definitions and approach to testing has changed.”

President of Professional Pharmacists Australia Geoff March said working pharmacists believe people’s access to RATs should not be dependent on how much they earn and can afford to pay.

“Employee pharmacists are on the frontline of this issue, constantly running out of supply and seeing the look on people’s faces when they struggle to pay for tests.

“Most Australians find the cost of testing their family prohibitive – if they’re able to find testing kits at all.

“If Australians have to rely on the private sector to get covid tests, they will be paying up to $20 each – that’s $100 for a family of five for just one test each time.

“In the future more workers will need to access the tests before going into work so the financial strain will increase.

“We are concerned about the dire shortage in the supply of RATs, the prohibitive cost and the intensifying pressure on working pharmacists dealing with this issue.”

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