No end date for SA emergency dispensing authority.

Pharmacists in South Australia will be able to dispense emergency supplies of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) quantities of prescription medicines to patients without a prescription until the end of the COVID-19 crisis, under measures announced today. 

The State Government moved to extend provisions announced during the bushfire crisis in January and will ensure access to essential medications for patients across the state, where a pharmacist is satisfied there is an immediate need. 

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) SA/NT Branch President, Robyn Johns, welcomed the decision, which bring the state into line with other jurisdictions that have announced emergency dispensing measures.

"PSA fully supports and thanks to the SA Government for this very sensible approach which will support patients continued access essential medicines,” she said.

“GPs across SA are under extreme pressure and this measure will provide certainty to patients who cannot access their usual prescriber due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.”

“As the peak national body for pharmacists, PSA has called for and worked with the SA 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.”

See tomorrow's edition of Pharmacy Daily for more. 

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