The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the pharmacy practice and initiatives taken by the Australian federal government to ensure the continued supply of essential medicines under the conditions of an emergency response plan for COVID-19. During the pandemic, Australian pharmacists have been working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams at the frontline to manage the equitable and safe supply of medicines despite the unprecedented situation. Although these presented problems for small pharmacies, social distancing policies were implemented widely to maintain personal and environmental hygiene and reduce the number of face-to-face patient visits. In collaboration with various pharmaceutical stakeholders, the Australian government responded rapidly to ensure equitable and sufficient supply with continued access to therapeutic goods during the pandemic. Additionally, vital policies and practices have been implemented, including supplying regular medicines at government-subsidized prices, a maximum one-month supply of some prescription medicines and purchase limits on over-the-counter medicines (one unit per purchase), medication management reviews through telehealth, electronic and digital prescribing, home delivery of medicines to vulnerable people and those in home isolation and the provision of serious shortage medicine substitution rights to pharmacists. Pharmacists were encouraged to communicate and collaborate with other local pharmacies to ensure that essential pharmacy services met community needs (e.g., opening hours). However, there has been a shortage of some medicines due to supply chain disruption and increased demand due to the pandemic. Higher demand for flu vaccinations, increased work pressure in pharmacies, and severe frustration and anxiety in pharmacy customers were also reported. Vigilance is required to monitor foreseeable shortages of therapeutics goods, particularly in regional pharmacies. There is an opportunity for long-term change to retain certain rights and roles based on the competence shown by pharmacists in this challenging period, such as telephone medication reviews, telehealth for MedsCheck and Diabetes MedsCheck, digital prescription handling and therapeutic substitution.

本文的目的是概述澳大利亚联邦政府为确保在 COVID-19 应急计划的条件下持续供应基本药物而采取的药房实践和举措。在大流行期间，澳大利亚药剂师一直在前线与多学科团队合作，以在前所未有的情况下管理公平和安全的药品供应。尽管这些给小药店带来了问题，但社会疏远政策得到了广泛实施，以保持个人和环境卫生，并减少面对面就诊的次数。与各种制药利益相关者合作，澳大利亚政府迅速做出反应，以确保公平和充足的供应，并在大流行期间继续提供治疗用品。此外，还实施了重要的政策和做法，包括以政府补贴价格提供常规药品、部分处方药最多一个月的供应和非处方药的购买限制（每次购买一个单位）、药物管理审查通过远程医疗、电子和数字处方、向弱势群体和居家隔离者送药上门以及向药剂师提供严重短缺的药物替代权。鼓励药剂师与当地其他药房进行沟通和合作，以确保基本药房服务满足社区需求（例如营业时间）。然而，由于供应链中断和大流行导致需求增加，一些药品出现短缺。还报告了对流感疫苗接种的更高需求、药房工作压力的增加以及药房顾客的严重沮丧和焦虑。需要保持警惕，以监测可预见的治疗用品短缺情况，尤其是在区域药店。根据药剂师在这个充满挑战的时期所表现出的能力，有机会进行长期变革以保留某些权利和角色，例如电话药物审查、MedsCheck 和 Diabetes MedsCheck 的远程医疗、数字处方处理和治疗替代。据报道，药房工作压力增加，药房顾客严重沮丧和焦虑。需要保持警惕，以监测可预见的治疗用品短缺情况，尤其是在区域药店。根据药剂师在这个充满挑战的时期所表现出的能力，有机会进行长期变革以保留某些权利和角色，例如电话药物审查、MedsCheck 和 Diabetes MedsCheck 的远程医疗、数字处方处理和治疗替代。据报道，药房工作压力增加，药房顾客严重沮丧和焦虑。需要保持警惕，以监测可预见的治疗用品短缺情况，尤其是在区域药店。根据药剂师在这个充满挑战的时期所表现出的能力，有机会进行长期变革以保留某些权利和角色，例如电话药物审查、MedsCheck 和 Diabetes MedsCheck 的远程医疗、数字处方处理和治疗替代。