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Access to medicines is critical, particularly during difficult circumstances such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. In order to ensure fair and equitable access, community pharmacies will be enforcing limits on dispensing and sales of certain prescription and over-the-counter medicines and may apply limits to other products.

In response to COVID-19, demand for medicines increased markedly during the first two weeks of March. This has resulted in pharmacies and wholesalers reporting numerous product lines being out of stock.

Pharmaceutical companies have advised the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) that they do not anticipate imminent or widespread national-level medicine shortages due to potential impacts of COVID-19 on their manufacturing or logistics. However, if current levels of demand through excessive purchasing (stockpiling) continue, supply interruptions will occur at both the local and national levels.

In response, pharmacists will be required to limit dispensing of certain prescription medicines to a one-month supply at the prescribed dose, and sales of certain over-the-counter medicines to a maximum of one unit per purchase. These limits apply to particular classes of medicines for which unavailability or an interruption to treatment could cause significant health impacts, or that are expected to be subject to increased demand during this pandemic.

The list (see ‘Affected products’ below) includes over-the-counter medicines such as glyceryl trinitrate, adrenaline autoinjectors (EpiPens) and salbutamol inhalers, as well as prescription products such as asthma and COPD medicines, insulins and other diabetes medicines, and medicines for epilepsy. Other medicines may be added to the list in the coming weeks.

Salbutamol inhalers (such as Ventolin, Asmol and Airomir puffers) have been in high demand from patients. To ensure access for patients who require these reliever medicines to treat symptoms of asthma and COPD, pharmacists will have to confirm that patients requesting salbutamol puffers over-the-counter have a relevant diagnosis from a doctor and will label the product indicating to whom it has been dispensed.

Additionally, pharmacies will also be placing children’s paracetamol liquid formulations (see ‘Affected products’ below) behind the counter to assist in allocating those products equitably.

Pharmacists are also being strongly encouraged to limit dispensing and sales of all therapeutic goods generally to a one-month supply or one unit.

The TGA advises consumers to resist the urge to stockpile medicines unnecessarily. If you have any questions or concerns about continued supply of your medicine, speak to your health professional.

Affected products