Pharmacy Guild QLD urges Australian Government to expand continued dispensing arrangements for community pharmacies to supply PBS medicines to patients impacted by floods in Far North QLD

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch President Chris Owen is calling on the Albanese Government to broaden continued dispensing arrangements to include all PBS subsidised medicines for residents impacted by the current disaster in Far North Queensland. 

“As medicines experts, patients should be able to access all PBS subsidised medicines from their local community pharmacist during a disaster, and we are calling on the Albanese Government to expand the list of medicines available under the National Health (Continued Dispensing) Determination 2022 to include all PBS subsidised medicines for patients in the North,” says Mr Owen.

Mr Owen goes on to explain that patients who do not have access to their scripts or medicines in the disaster, and can safely access their local community pharmacy, should talk to their pharmacists about accessing emergency supply arrangements.

“Medicines eligible to be supplied under the current federal arrangement are too narrow and should include all medicines.

“We are also calling on Minister Fentiman to support the call to the Australian Government so that pharmacies can dispense all PBS subsidised medicines to those patients in need.”

“While the vast majority of pharmacies remain open, some with minimal staff, it is vital that patients can access healthcare and their medicines from their community pharmacist now and over the coming weeks.

“We will continue to work with Queensland Health to reinforce the importance of medicine availability and supply chain viability to communities impacted by natural disasters in all future planning,” says Mr Owen.