Unfair fees and low competition: why the pharmacy sector needs a shake up

The average Australian visits a community pharmacy 18 times a year – more than any other health service. Pharmacies will only get more important as Australia’s population gets older and sicker, and more scripts are dispensed. But policy failures are holding the sector back. Vested interests control decision-making. Prices and services aren’t based on evidence. And regulations block competition, innovation and discounting. A new Grattan Institute report shows how to set the pharmacy sector up…