Patients will not be charged for medication from Tasmanian hospital pharmacies from today as allied health workers escalate industrial action. The workers are angry they do not have their own representative on the newly established seven-member executive team appointed by new Tasmanian Health Service (THS) CEO David Alcorn. Instead, one position has been created combining responsibility for nursing, midwifery and allied health. Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) secretary Tim Jacobson said Health Minister Michael Ferguson and Mr Alcorn had been almost silent in response to their concerns since industrial action started two weeks ago. “The bans now are escalated to capture a number of revenue-raising activities,” he said.
