28 July 2016 - Sigma Pharmaceuticals has backed a federal government-sanctioned review into the sector, saying it is timely to take a thorough look at the industry away from the glare of regulatory time pressures.

The release yesterday of a discussion paper on the Review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation, which was headed by Stephen King from the Productivity Commission, has fuelled mixed reactions from the sector.

While Sigma remained upbeat on the paper, which is now open to feedback, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia warned against dis­mant­ling a system that it said worked well for the sake of an economic theory.

The review was a key commitment in the $18.9 billion pharmacy agreement negotiated by the Coalition government last term. It looked at issues of fees, business models and location rules but it also questioned the nature of what pharmacists do, and what they charge, and asks if they should be put to better use.

A Sigma spokesman said it was clear that there would be some controversial elements to the review, but he added that the process would help define what was important to the industry, the consumer and government.

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