PHARMACISTS operating in rural and remote parts of Australia are calling for an urgent review of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) dispensing following a surge in order volumes from "major accounts", which emptied warehouses, in response to concerns over COVID-19.
In a statement issued this morning the Rural Pharmacy Network Australia (RPNA) called on the Community Service Obligation (CSO) Agency to take a deeper look into the "unprecedented run on wholesale stocks of PBS medicines" since the beginning of Mar.
"We believe that order volumes in some cases were six to seven times normal 'beginning of month' volumes and that such quantities cannot be justified on any public health grounds," the RPNA said.
"Our members have reported serious medication shortages including stock unavailability, orders cancelled by wholesalers without explanation and missing deliveries of PBS medicines following unconfirmed but credible reports of some large pharmacy groups placing orders far in excess of reasonable needs.
"No one seems to be denying that there has been an unprecedented spike in buying.
"If it was consumer demand, there would be a corresponding spike in PBS prescriptions dispensed preceding the big buys.
"The Government/Department of Health should have this data.
"Even if there has been a spike in PBS scripts dispensed this needs to be assessed against the volume of buying that occurred.
"The PBS and the CSO are meant to ensure equity of access to PBS medicines for all Australians but clearly on this occasion that hasn't happened.
"We'd like to know if there have been any breaches [of the CSO Requirement to supply rural and remote pharmacies] this month.
"It looks a lot like the coronavirus crisis has been used by deep-pocketed players as an excuse to game the PBS - a vital national public health institution - for commercial advantage.
"That is something that should alarm public health authorities and result in a major inquiry and possibly even a complete re-think of how the CSO works.
"It's clear that on this occasion, the 'first-in-best-dressed' nature of the PBS wholesale distribution system has proved to be a vulnerability that has endangered PBS access in rural and some metropolitan areas."
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has noted there have been some issues regarding medicines shortages, but stressed it "is not a national medicine shortage".
"We call on consumers not to purchase more medicines than they need, and we urge health professionals to reassure patients that there is no need to buy more than is necessary," the TGA said.
"We call on pharmacists to avoid over ordering medicines, to help ensure that medicines are available to all Australians who need them."
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 16 Mar 20
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 16 Mar 20
