MORTLAKE pharmacist Stuart Baker has resigned in protest from his national industry group over a move to favour one brand of dietary supplements for patients.
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Other south-west pharmacists have expressed concern on how the link between the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Blackmores would restrict choice.
The deal will mean a Blackmores product link will pop up when pharmacists dispense medication using computer software.
“We don’t stock dietary supplements at all. It’s just not necessary,” Mr Baker told The Standard.
“The whole deal is a bit off in my opinion. They are not considering the care of patients.
“Most of my clients are concession cardholders and don’t want to be spending money on some useless dietary supplement.”
Warrnambool’s Dennis Ham, of Gateway Pharmacy, Mary-Lou Kay, of Artz and Kay Pharmacy, and Allan Luke, of Soulsby and Struth Pharmacy, said there should be freedom of choice in supplement suppliers.
“I have grave reservations,” Ms Kay said.
“We are trying to limit the total number of medications for patients, not add to them.
“I certainly won’t be using the dispensing software link.”
Mr Luke said freedom of choice was important.
“It should be up to the individual pharmacist and customer to choose,” he said.
Mr Ham said the deal referred to vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, probotics and co-Q10, which he said had proven benefits in certain circumstances.
“I take four of them myself,” he said. “Dietary supplements have been recommended to clients for years by doctors and pharmacists, but without a tie-up to a particular company.”
The Otway Division of General Practice is also alarmed by the move.
Medical director Dr Dale Ford said the process could erode the high level of community respect for pharmacists.
“It doesn’t fit in with independent patient-care guidelines,” he said.
Blackmores chief executive Christine Holgate described the arrangement as delivering “the Coke and fries” with prescription medicines to generate “new and important revenue” for community pharmacies.
The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia said it was concerned the deal would be unethical in prompting pharmacists to recommend products without an individual diagnosis being performed.
