The Pharmacy Guild of Australia says rapid antigen self-testing kits will become another tool in the fight to suppress COVID-19 in Australia.
Pharmacy Guild National President, Trent Twomey, has welcomed advice from the Therapeutic Goods Administration that applications will be taken from 1 October for companies to supply self-tests for use at home, for use from 1 November onwards.
Mr Twomey said he expected that upon approval, test kits would be widely available through community pharmacies across Australia.
"We need to utilise all available resources in this once-in-a-century fight against this pandemic," Mr Twomey said.
"As the Federal Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, has made clear, all necessary checks and balances must be undertaken to ensure safety and effectiveness of these tests; and also the regulatory process will involve State and Territory Governments.
"Community pharmacists have helped accelerate vaccinations against COVID-19, especially now that Moderna vaccine stocks are available.
"Pharmacists will continue to deliver resources to the community in the fight against COVID and the effort to restore our Australian way of life – at least to a 'new normal'," Mr Twomey said.
