| Pharmacists will be able to provide supplies of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listed medications to patients without a prescription under Continued Dispensing on a permanent basis from 01 July.
The emergency measure was initially introduced in response to the bushfire crisis in 2020, and has been extended until 30 June as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, announced the move at the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference on the Gold Coast this morning, noting it would “move up from where it was before the [COVID-19] pandemic”.
Hunt added that from 04 April, community pharmacies will be able to participate in the rollout of the influenza vaccine under the National Immunisation Program “in all states and territories bar one”.
More details in Monday's issue of Pharmacy Daily.
| 