COMMUNITY pharmacists in Queensland are calling on Federal and State governments to continue emergency measures which allows them to provide greater support for patients to be extended beyond 31 Mar.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland Branch President, Trent Twomey, said action taken during the COVID-19 pandemic including adjustments to the Communicable Diseases and Pharmacist Vaccination Programs and Continued Dispensing - Emergency Measures, had benefited patients.
However, he warned the pending expiry of these measures could adversely impact patients' access to medicines.
"The proactive adjustments have eased medication demands on hospitals and general practices, especially in regional Queensland," he said.
"However, with some of these services due to expire at the end of Mar, we need to move now to make these changes permanent and ensure Queenslanders can continue to have access to potentially life-saving medicines.
"Without local community pharmacists being able to support Queenslanders that live in rural and remote communities with access to their medicines through continued dispensing, many might go without.
"No patients should ever go without their medicine.
"We're calling on the Federal Government to show their ongoing commitment to Queenslanders and primary healthcare by permanently implementing continued dispensing.
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