MOVES to tackle panic buying by limiting the dispensing and sales of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, announced yesterday (PD breaking news) have been welcomed by pharmacy's peak bodies, wholesalers and the pharmaceutical sector.
The new regulations will restrict the dispensing of prescription medicines to a maximum of 30 days, while pharmacists have been ordered to limit the sale of paracetamol and salbutamol to one per person, with children's paracetamol preparations to go behind the counter "to assist in allocating supply", as pharmacies manage the medication needs of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, George Tambassis, described the move as a sensible measure to curb stockpiling of essential products.
"It is regrettable that such measures are needed, but these are unprecedented and drastic times.
"We ask all patients to understand the need for these restrictions and to be respectful towards pharmacy staff.
"With extremely high demand and panic buying, it became clear supply interruptions would occur if nothing was done.
"We are determined that no patient in need of a medicine in Australia should be deprived of that medicine because of unnecessary hoarding by others."
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia National President, Dr Chris Freeman, described the move as "a bold decision".
"Demand for medicines has increased considerably in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which has the potential for numerous product lines to be out of stock and some pharmacists are being pressured and abused to provide unsafe quantities of medicine," he said.
"There is currently no anticipation of widespread national medicine shortages, however if current levels of demand through excessive purchasing continue, supply interruptions will occur which is why these measures have been put in place.
"We need to put the brakes on selfish buying, some members of the community, who are stockpiling medicines, are abusing pharmacists and this clearly needs to stop."
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