Pharmacy Daily | Pharmacies to go 24/7 in NSW

PLANNING restrictions are being eased in NSW to enable pharmacies and supermarkets to operate 24 hours a day, to cater for the needs of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic (PD Breaking news).

The State's Planning and Public Spaces Minister, Rob Stokes, announced the move to "cut red tape" aiming to ensure the community has access to food and medicines, and follows similar measures in other jurisdictions around the world.

"These orders cut red tape so we can move quickly and decisively to ensure the health, wellbeing and safety of our community during this time," he said.

"The focus of our first order is giving people flexibility to visit their local supermarket, pharmacy or corner store at any time of day if those retail premises choose to operate for extended hours.

"This means the community will have access to food, medical supplies and essential household goods whenever they need it.

"Stores will also be able to dispose of their waste at any time of day, rather than during restricted hours, to dispose of the significant and sudden increase in stock."

Stokes added the order would provide greater flexibility for home-based businesses to operate at any time and expand their business as necessary.

"For those businesses operating out of home, we are facilitating more flexible operating hours and increasing the number of people working together from two to five, providing they can abide by the social distancing rules," Mr Stokes said.

"This is important as more and more people work from home and need flexible working arrangements."

The NSW State Government said the changes to planning regulations "will be in place until the crisis is over".

While the move is expected to bolster access to medicines, it contrasts with advice from pharmacy organisations in the UK, who have recommended that pharmacies should seek to curtail operating hours in the interests of staff and patient safety (PD 23 Feb).