EMMA MCBRIDE MP
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR DOBELL
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CARERS

ACUTE SHORTAGE OF RATs

Despite having months to prepare for this latest COVID-19 outbreak, the Prime Minister has failed to shore up supply of Rapid Antigen Tests for people on the Central Coast.

With COVID-19 cases soaring across NSW and testing clinics being overrun, locals have no choice but to pay top dollar for a RAT, if they can find one.

“This Government has a responsibility to secure more Rapid Antigen Tests for our community, but they’ve been too slow to act once again,” Federal Member for Dobell, Emma McBride said.

“Now we’re seeing supermarket shelves stripped bare, pharmacies running out of tests and vulnerable Coasties being forced to pay outrageous prices for a simple swab.

“We’re in the third year of this pandemic and the Prime Minister should have been prepared.”

While Ms. McBride welcomes news that concession card holders will now be given free RATs, she says the Government needs to take things further.

“I’m pleased to see Rapid Antigen Tests being made free for some of the most vulnerable people in our community, but the reality is, they should be free and accessible, for all Australians,” she said.

“PCR tests are free for everyone through Medicare, RATs should be too.”

As a pharmacist of 20 years, Ms. McBride said the Government also had a responsibility to work with pharmacies to secure supply before making this announcement.

Instead, pharmacists been told to source RATs themselves, pass them on free of charge and wait for the Government to reimburse them.

In the meantime, local pharmacies are being overwhelmed with enquires and it’s unlikely they’ll receive stock before free tests are made available in the next two weeks.

“Pharmacists need to be able to access stock to ensure equitable distribution to the most needy and vulnerable in our community,” a spokesperson for the Pharmacy Guild on the Central Coast said.

“It’s outrageous,” Ms. McBride said. “The government should pay local community pharmacies in a timely manner.”

“Pharmacists are some of the most trusted healthcare professionals in our community and if they don’t have RATs on hand, vulnerable Coasties will be worse off.

WEDNESDAY, 12 JANUARY 2022