Pharmacy Guild spends big for seat at PM’s birthday dinner

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has reportedly wined and dined with the Prime Minister at a lavish birthday celebration this week – an exclusive invite that comes with a price tag of up to $110,000 per year.
 
According to the Australian Financial Review, Monday night’s Canberra celebration doubled as a Labor Party fundraiser and birthday dinner for Anthony Albanese and Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
 
In an article titled ‘Who paid to attend Albanese and Chalmers’ joint birthday?’, it reports Pharmacy Guild President Professor Trent Twomey was among the three dozen attendees, which included members of Labor’s Business Forum who pay up to $110,000 a year for such opportunities.
 
But it’s an invite that’s left RACGP President Dr Michael Wright unimpressed, saying that at a time when patients are struggling to access affordable care, it ‘sends the wrong message about priorities’.
 
‘While the Guild is out there buying access, Australia’s GPs are out in their communities, campaigning at the grassroots level for the resources our patients need,’ he told newsGP.
 
‘The RACGP doesn’t write cheques for political access – our advocacy is driven by evidence, patient outcomes, and the lived experience of GPs.
 
‘We spend our money producing standards to support high-quality general practice care, not trying to buy influence.’
 
The exclusive dinner fell in the same week as the college’s GPs@Parliament event, which brought together dozens of GPs to advocate for much needed investment and change to Australia’s primary care system.
 
This flagship advocacy event has seen the college meet with Australia’s political leaders to call for, among other asks, a significant boost to patient rebates that will cut out-of-pocket expenses for those with complex and chronic health conditions.  
 
‘This week we have been able to meet with many politicians and share productive discussions and solutions,’ Dr Wright said.
 
These meetings included sit downs with Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler, Aged Care and Seniors Minister Sam Rae, as well as many assistant ministers, shadow ministers, MPs and senators across Parliament.
 
Prime Minister Albanese’s office did not respond to requests to meet with the RACGP and discuss potential improvements to the healthcare system.
 
Dr Wright said Australia needs meaningful investment in patient care, not access for ‘well-resourced lobby groups’.
 
‘GPs are working harder than ever to keep care affordable and accessible,’ he said.
 
‘Health policy should be shaped by what’s best for patients, not by who can afford a seat at a private celebration.’
 
Last year, the Guild was the biggest health-related donor to political parties, coughing up more than $600,000.
 
Its spending comes as pharmacists’ scope of practice continues to rapidly expand, and while this has been welcomed by the Guild, pharmacists on the ground are pointing to concerns with its rollout.
 
In a recent poll asking pharmacists if there are ‘barriers which could hinder your ability to provide pharmacist prescribing services’, 31% of respondents said they work as a sole pharmacist and cannot ‘safely leave the shop floor/dispensary to prescribe these services’.
 
More than half also said they do not want to provide extra services without being paid more, and 29% said they have concerns about the ethics of both prescribing and dispensing.

But as Australia’s healthcare sector continues to evolve, Dr Wright said the RACGP will continue to work with all sides of politics to ensure general practice is well supported to provide affordable, high-quality care.
 
‘Patients need to know their care is being shaped by evidence and community need, not by who can buy a seat,’ he said.
 
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Prime Minister Albanese were contacted for comment.
 
Log in below to join the conversation.

advocacy GPs@Parliament Pharmacy Guild of Australia scope of practice