Health Funding

The country’s 20 DHBs are urging community pharmacies in serious financial difficulty due to the impact of COVID-19 to see if they are eligible for a portion of an $18 million funding package

The eligibility criteria for the $18 million package allocated to pharmacy in June has finally been revealed, but the sector has been left scratching its head as to who will actually receive any money given the stringent criteria

The country’s 20 DHBs are urging community pharmacies in serious financial difficulty due to the impact of COVID-19 to see if they are eligible for a portion of an $18 million funding package

Details about who will benefit from the $18 million fund for pharmacy announced last month are slow to emerge, leaving some wondering if it caught health authorities by surprise

The Ministry of Health today revealed more details of the $18 million fund for hundreds of ‘critical’ community pharmacies at part of the $92.6 million package the Government announced this week

The Government has revealed $18 million in funding will go to 365 "critical" community pharmacies as part of a $92.6 million package, but details - such as what constitutes a "critical" community pharmacy and how the financial support will be allocated- remain unclear

An Otago study estimates up to half of the daily activities of a pharmacy are carried out without remuneration. 

Pharmaceutical Society president Ian McMichael is not surprised Budget 2020 has nothing for pharmacy, and urges health authorities to fund pharmacy to do more for their communities

In a pre-Budget funding announcement earlier today, the Government announced $3.92 billion in extra funding for DHBs over the next four years, but Pharmaceutical Society president Ian McMichael is “sceptical” the pharmacy sector will benefit from it.