Victorian Dept of Health and Human Services follows NSW's lead on emergency dispensing.

Pharmacists in Victoria can now dispense prescription-only medications to patients who may have lost their prescriptions in the ongoing bushfires, under emergency measures announced this afternoon. 

In a tweet posted by Victorian Health Minister, Jenny Mikakos, said the revised emergency dispensing rules would remain in place until 01 April. 

Responding to the post, former Pharmaceutical Society of Australia CEO, Shane Jackson, described the decision, which follows a similar announcement by NSW Health yesterday, as “sensible”.

“[It] will allow pharmacists in most cases to give a month’s supply of their medicines without a prescription,” he said.

“Next steps should be for these supplies to be Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidised, so patients are not out of pocket.”

For more see tomorrow's edition of Pharmacy Daily.

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