LESSONS need to be learned from the Victorian COVID-19 crisis, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), believes.
While the PSA acknowledged with "Victorian Government's strong health response" to the pandemic in its submission to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, it issued a list of 13 recommendations for improvements to better protect pharmacists and the public.
"Every crisis brings lessons in hindsight," the PSA said.
"Inadequate consultation with pharmacy groups and gaps in Department of Health and Human Services expertise led to issues with public health emergency orders.
"This created delays for Victorians in accessing medicines, and more concerningly led to medicine-related harm."
The submission also called for the introduction of tough penalties for abusing pharmacists.
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