The same unbridled greed, cowardice, bribery and corruption that led Pharmacists, Doctors and the rest of the medical establishment to enthusiastically promote vaccinations to populations including children and babies throughout Australia and across the world.
22 Australian chemists go on trip to UK with Arrotex before looming October 1 medicine price hike
The price of 900 medicines will rise on October 1 and one drug company took chemists on a ritzy London jaunt which included going to Wimbledon. See their itinerary.
Sue Dunlevy – News Corp Australia Network
September 11, 2022 – 5:00AM
Exclusive: Australia’s largest generic medicines company took 22 chemists on a ritzy jaunt to London during Wimbledon, ahead of a drug price rise that will yield it millions.
Drug manufacturer Arrotex, which will rake in millions from a deal that from October 1 will see the federal government raise the price the taxpayer pays for 900 commonly used drugs, jointly funded the Independent Pharmacy Network Conference.
The invitation-only event was attended by the head of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Professor Trent Twomey and his wife Georgina.
Held in July, the trip also came after key pharmacy groups switched away from using Arrotex as their main supplier and the company needed to sure up relationships with other pharmacy groups who decide which brand of generic medicines to sell to consumers.
A conference program leaked to News Corp shows guests stayed at the $1 billion, $1160 a night “super boutique” hotel The Londoner on Leicester Square which boasts access to a “residents-only club”, a whiskey bar as well as “deluxe” accommodation.
Day four of the conference program saw attendees spend all day at the Wimbledon Men’s and Ladies’ quarterfinals at the Rosewater Pavilion where they were served vintage champagne and the program says:
“Beautifully landscaped gardens, subtle floral touchpoints, and British-inspired four course a la carte food and drinks menus personify the theme of tennis in an English garden, all making for an unforgettable experience. Plus, in keeping with the Best of British theme, you’ll have the opportunity to meet a former British tennis celebrity”.
According to Koobit this package sells for around £2600 ($A4435) per day.
The dinner on the final night of the conference funded by Pharmacy Alliance Group was held at “Mayfair’s most luxurious Chinese restaurant Park Chinois” where the king crab and wagu beef dishes each cost £92 ($A157).
Pharmacy technology services group Platform Alliance facilitated the conference, alongside Arrotex.
Platform Alliance CEO Dave Fenlon said his group funded the tennis excursion and all meals during the conference, as well as part of the bills for airfares and accommodation.
Mr Fenlon said the conference had to be held in an attractive location like London to attract pharmacists to attend and so if they wished they could tag on other overseas holidays using the airfare funded by conference sponsors.
In a statement, Arrotex said it was held in London so delegates could “be educated about new OTC products, pharmacy services horizon scanning and innovative thinking from EU-based subject experts. We also had the opportunity to review products and offerings from a uniquely UK health and wellness pharmacy chain. Delegates participated in retail store tour visits across London.”
The company said any profits it made from the new medicine price hikes would be neutralised by a requirement it spend millions to keep 4-6 months stock of key medicines in Australia to ease shortages.
“I do concede that we did pay for some aspects of the conference” Arrotex Executive Chairman and CEO Dennis Bastas told News Corp.
The lavish conference raises potential conflict of interest concerns about Australia’s peak pharmacist lobby group The Pharmacy Guild and chemists who are meant to be an independent, trusted source of medicines advice for Australians.
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