The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has welcomed the sensible measures announced today to curb stockpiling of essential medicines in the face of heightened demand caused by anxiety over the COVID-19 pandemic.
The National President of the Pharmacy Guild, George Tambassis, urged all pharmacists across Australia to comply with the new restrictions in the interests of the national public health and quality use of medicines.
"These sensible and timely limits will apply to particular classes of medicines which must remain available for patients in need. 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," Mr Tambassis said.
"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," Mr Tambassis said.
"These measures have been designed to ensure medicines can be supplied in an equitable way to all patients that need them," he said.
