MEDIA RELEASE 19 MARCH 2020 – The National Pharmaceutical Services Association (NPSA) has welcomed latest government moves to manage equitable access to medicines for all Australians with limits on dispensing of certain prescription products and sales of some OTC medicines.
NPSA Chair Mark Hooper said: “We have been in close consultation with government and pharmacy stakeholders discussing ways to manage the surges in demand and believe the measures announced today will help to ease pressure on the supply chain.
“We will continue to monitor this with Government and take their advice on what further measures we need to take.
“These new limits build on measures initiated last week by the wholesaler network to address panic buying and stockpiling.
“We are working 24 hours in distribution centres across Australia to ensure everyone can access the medicines they need, no matter where they live.
“The NPSA notes advice from government and medicine suppliers that there is no national shortage of medicines.”
Ends.
New government limits on medicines:
- Pharmacists will be required to limit dispensing of certain prescription products to one month’s supply at the prescribed dose.
- Sales of certain over-the-counter medicines – particularly Ventolin and Paracetamol, limited to a maximum of one unit per purchase.
- Placing children’s Paracetamol formulations behind the counter.
Contacts:
Elizabeth Cuming, Executive Director NPSA, 0417 119 214
Myles Wallace, Michels Warren PR, 0432 866 094
The National Pharmaceutical Services Association represents CSO* wholesalers Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, National Pharmacies, Sigma Healthcare and Symbion. NPSA members are part of Australia’s Critical National Infrastructure.
*Community Service Obligation Wholesalers, on behalf of the Australian Government, supply around 300m PBS medicines per year to Australians regardless of where they reside within 24 hours of ordering.