A national cabinet plan to provide free rapid antigen tests to concessional card holders starts today, but Queensland pharmacy officials say most pharmacies are out of stock.
Chris Owen, the president of the Queensland branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, urged customers not to turn up at their local pharmacy and expect to get a test.
"Most pharmacies are still waiting for stock and waiting for their orders to arrive, so they will not have stock available for this program," he said.
The scheme would allow certain groups to claim up to 10 free RATs over three months, with a maximum of five in a single month.
The tests will be free for people with a:
- Pension concession card
- Commonwealth seniors healthcare card
- DVA gold, white or orange card
- Health care card
- Low-income card
On January 5, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said people could walk into a chemist from today and supply their details for a free test.
A rebate system would reimburse pharmacies, with the costs shared 50:50 between the states and the Commonwealth.
However, on Sunday, Mr Owen urged concession card holders not to phone or drop into their local pharmacies to enquire about the tests.
"I'm receiving 200 to 300 phone calls a day, which is taking us away from business as usual, our core businesses dispensing prescriptions and providing advice to Queenslanders," he said.
Instead, he advised people to check social media for updates and the Find a Pharmacy website to see when supplies would be available.
"We are all trying our level best to try and provide these tests as suitable soon as possible under difficult conditions for supply and staffing," he said.
A two-week search for tests
Jocelyn Osborne has a health care card and had hoped she could collect a free rapid antigen test from the pharmacy today. She works in childcare and has been looking for a RAT since January 6.
"I go down to the local chemist every day before work at lunchtime, and after work I usually pop down, and there's always a sign out front that says 'none available'," she said.
Ms Osborne has taken a PCR test before, but it took four days to get a result. As a single parent, she said she can't afford to take days off to wait for a result, or to spend money on a large number of tests.
"If at any time I wake up with a sore throat, just to be able to take that test and know that I'm okay to go to work, [it] would be really good to have that security, that you're okay," she said.
RATs have been in short supply in recent weeks as COVID cases have climbed across the country.
Mr Morrison said on Friday the Commonwealth was not supplying pharmacies with tests — it was up to them to order the stock.
He said close contacts or anyone who has COVID symptoms can still get a free test from a state clinic.
"I want to be clear. If you require a test by a public health order, if you are symptomatic, if you are a close contact, then you can get a free test from the state testing clinic. You don't have to go to the pharmacy for that," Mr Morrison said.
Mr Owen said his own business had not received any supplies since December 28, but he expected the situation to improve in February.
"As the supply improves, and we expect that supply to improve over the coming fortnight, there will be plenty available for everyone," he said.
