Question 1
In a research report titled Shifting the Dial published in 2017, the Productivity Commission recommended a new model of pharmacy be adopted with a ‘move away from community pharmacy as the vehicle for dispensing medicines to a model that anticipates automatic dispending in a majority of locations, supervised by a suitable qualified person’ (Recommendation 2.5). The suitably qualified person would have ‘good social skills and trustworthiness (with support from information technologies), but would not need the clinical and scientific abilities of pharmacists’ (Recommendation 2.4). In the new model, pharmacists would have a new role in the multi-disciplinary management of complex and chronic condition. This role would be defined in consultation with Primary Health Networks, Local Hospital Networks, the various medical colleges and any other relevant clinical bodies.
Critically discuss these recommendations by the Productivity Commission taking into account viewpoints of different stakeholders and the possible impact on population health and the economy.

Question 2
Australia and New Zealand both have national medicines policies that aim for equitable access to cost-effective and safe medicines. However, each country has adopted a different approach. Australia has an uncapped system of funding medicines, with the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) reviewing submission for new medicines to be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Committee based on selected criteria. New Zealand has an equivalent agency, PHARMAC, which decides which pharmaceuticals to publicly fund. However, PHARMAC operates under a fixed budget constraint, and adopts different procurement mechanisms for medicines such as competitive tendering.
Compare and critically review Australia and New Zealand’s policies for providing access to prescription medicines based on need not ability to pay. Make a recommendation as to whether Australia should or should not adopt the New Zealand model.

Question 3
Critically discuss the arguments for and against opening up the pharmacy sector to competition, including through the deregulation of ownership and location rules.