tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post3318629982598934698..comments2024-03-29T09:18:22.495+11:00Comments on Australian Health Information Technology: Useful and Interesting Health IT Links from the Last Week – 06/04/2008Dr David G More MB PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06902724829795199526noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-3492953936173689042008-04-07T16:05:00.000+10:002008-04-07T16:05:00.000+10:00David, I don’t understand. If the “Sydney-based ch...David, I don’t understand. If the “Sydney-based chemist warehouse and online distribution business (which) had an exemption to the pharmacy act's requirement that only qualified pharmacists may own pharmacies” …………….. then why is it that …………… “Coles, now wholly owned by Westfarmers” is not allowed to operate Pharmacy Direct through its subsidiary company, Now.com.au?<BR/><BR/>Did the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-77278998439817711052008-04-07T16:04:00.000+10:002008-04-07T16:04:00.000+10:00It might have frightened the politicians last year...It might have frightened the politicians last year when the election was underway - but hey - no more elections for a few years so let the consumer decide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-56855323909873040022008-04-07T14:05:00.000+10:002008-04-07T14:05:00.000+10:00Government fears the political power the Guild exe...Government fears the political power the Guild exercises over consumers through its 5,000 shopkeepers. Consumer choice is therefore controlled by the Guild. The Guild is preventing free market forces from being allowed to operate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-17894591776076332632008-04-07T14:04:00.001+10:002008-04-07T14:04:00.001+10:00Government should introduce legislation to permit ...Government should introduce legislation to permit free market forces to operate in the consumers’ interests. It does not do so because it has been bluffed by the Guild.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-10062087714526488662008-04-07T14:04:00.000+10:002008-04-07T14:04:00.000+10:00If they do change the legislation guess who will b...If they do change the legislation guess who will be at the front of the queue ready to negotiate the sale of their businesses to a supermarket chain. Will it be the independents who aren't members of the guild or will they be pushed aside to the end of the queue?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-58447042192261533102008-04-07T13:58:00.000+10:002008-04-07T13:58:00.000+10:00I' like to get out now. If I had to work for a Col...I' like to get out now. If I had to work for a Coles pharmacy for three more years so I can then walk away free I'd love to. My standards won't drop I'm still a professional pharmacist. Becasue I'm not a member of the Guild I'm stuck in the middle and I don't like it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-69874052823783688482008-04-07T13:47:00.000+10:002008-04-07T13:47:00.000+10:00You must believe in the fairies if you really beli...You must believe in the fairies if you really believe the wealthy pharmacy owners who control the political levers at the top of the Guild will not see fit to have the legislation changed when it suits them to make a handsome EXIT their business? Is there anything quite like that available to the doctors? Not really.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-32541739957374932512008-04-07T13:43:00.000+10:002008-04-07T13:43:00.000+10:00Wait till the guild’s members get older and want t...Wait till the guild’s members get older and want to retire and leave the business. They will find the party best able to offer a reasonable price for their business will not be able to. Why - because the Guild has bricked up the EXIT.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-41286423801168758802008-04-07T13:40:00.000+10:002008-04-07T13:40:00.000+10:00Where do power, control, and greed fit in all of t...Where do power, control, and greed fit in all of this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-27966586992283340562008-04-07T13:38:00.000+10:002008-04-07T13:38:00.000+10:00Very true. Pharmacists are represented by a powerf...Very true. Pharmacists are represented by a powerful lobby group in the Guild. It is intent on invading and securing increasing amounts of the turf currently occupied by the doctors despite public protestations to the contrary. Doctors can do nothing about it because their lobby groups are too disorganised and riddled with infighting and in no position to defend themselves against the powerful Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-33353715532752305312008-04-07T13:32:00.000+10:002008-04-07T13:32:00.000+10:00If the Guild cannot protect the community pharmacy...If the Guild cannot protect the community pharmacy sector from being invaded by others ready and waiting to provide ALL consumers with new services and new models of health care delivery then the Guild’s iron-grip in the primary care space will be weakened forever. The Guild knows this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-40681380432410691812008-04-07T13:00:00.000+10:002008-04-07T13:00:00.000+10:00Does this mean we are witnessing the emergence of ...Does this mean we are witnessing the emergence of some form of monopoly in the e-prescribing software space? Surely Government and the consumer (as taxpayer) should be able to exercise a substantial voice in the ownership and the development of this kind of technology?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-5039005127874690932008-04-07T12:39:00.000+10:002008-04-07T12:39:00.000+10:00The Guild has been fighting off the supermarkets f...The Guild has been fighting off the supermarkets for many years. It will continue to do so, whatever the cost. The Guild’s win last week will not go unchallenged. Coles will appeal and may in time even be enjoined by the Consumers’ Association to take this matter to a higher authority. This is the calm before the storm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23447705.post-51364224207411777832008-04-07T12:37:00.000+10:002008-04-07T12:37:00.000+10:00It should be apparent that the Guild wants to be a...It should be apparent that the Guild wants to be at the centre of every “Australian Internet Pharmacy”. Why else would it own half of a pharmacy software company which itself provides dispensing software to more than half of all pharmacies in Australia?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com