The New South Wales Government has today made an announcement to extend the special authority for emergency supply of medicines without a prescription, in a move that has been welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
Patients will be able to receive a maximum PBS quantity or pack size until 30th September 2020 without a prescription, where the pharmacist is satisfied there is immediate need.
The medicine must have been previously prescribed and be for the continuation of current essential treatment where it is impractical to obtain a prescription.
PSA NSW President Professor Peter Carroll congratulated the NSW Government for extending the emergency supply rules.
"PSA fully supports and thanks the NSW Government for this very sensible approach which will reduce the concerns of those in the community who may find it hard to access medicines in this challenging environment," he said.
"This will enable patients to still have ongoing access to their regular medicines in the event that they are not able to see their doctor for a prescription or must self-isolate.
"We are hearing from patients that their GPs are overwhelmed and can be difficult to get an appointment. This flexible approach to health care will ensure pharmacists can continue to support the community during the COVID-19 Pandemic."
"As the peak national body for pharmacists, PSA has called for and worked with the NSW Government to allow the continuation of emergency dispensing that was put in place during the recent bushfire crisis to ensure patients and members of the community continue to gain access to much needed medicines."
PSA will continue to work closely with NSW Health to support pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pharmacists have full access to these resources via the NSW Health website: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/covid-19-pharmacy.aspx
Additional resources can be found through the PSA COVID-19 web page: https://www.psa.org.au/coronavirus/
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