AUSTRALIAN State, Territory and Federal Governments are being urged to take a uniform approach to implement emergency dispensing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the announcements that pharmacies in Victoria and Western Australia now have authority to dispense full Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) quantities of medicines without a prescription (PD breaking news), Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, George Tambassis, called on Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, to ensure measures were "nationally consistent".
"We are living through a crisis and our patients' needs come first," he said.
"Working together with the Government to give them access to their medication, through the PBS, without a prescription would help community pharmacists to assist their patients.
"Australians are doing it tough at the moment, so making emergency supply measures permanent and nationally consistent, would make life that much easier.
"It would mean our patients don't have an additional, unnecessary cost or have to wait for action each time a crisis arises."
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) WA Branch President, Dr Fei Sim, and PSA Victorian Branch President, John Jackson, both described the decisions as "sensible".
"This change allows pharmacists to dispense prescription medications, subject to meeting certain conditions," Sim said.
"The medicine must have been previously prescribed and be for the continuation of current essential treatment where it is impractical to obtain a prescription.
"In light of the developing COVID-19 pandemic, this change will enable pharmacists to best service their patients."
Following the announcements from State Governments this week, emergency dispensing authorities will expire on 31 May for pharmacists in WA, 27 Sep in Victoria and 30 Sep in NSW.
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