Australian pharmacies take a loss under government scheme for concession card holders as RAT prices skyrocket

Subsidy was set before global demand increased in December and some chemists have struggled to afford tests under scheme, pharmacy guild says

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Pharmacies are losing up to $7.50 on each rapid antigen test under the federal government's concession card-holder scheme due to a shortage of stock.

Under the program 6.6m concession card holders in Australia can access up to 10 free RATs over a three month period, but the Pharmacy Guild of Australia has told the Guardian the scheme leads to a loss for individual chemists.

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