A MOUNT Gambier pharmacist has urged people not to panic buy medicines and face masks as demand for some product reaches fever pitch amid the global coronavirus health crisis.
While anxiety is growing in the community, health authorities said yesterday there had been no confirmed coronavirus cases in Mount Gambier.
While consumers have stripped toilet paper and hand sanitisers from supermarket shelves, Mount Gambier chemists have also recorded a spike in demand for medicines as well as other items.
It is understood some consumers are trying to “stock-up” on prescription medicines due to fears the onset of COVID-19 might lead to medicine shortages.
Authorities have also warned a critical shortage of surgical face masks may also affect dentists, which could potentially see practices close their doors.
TerryWhite Chemmart Mount Gambier pharmacist Angeline Becker called on people to remain calm and refrain from stockpiling medicines given there was no issue with supply.
She said demand for face masks and hand sanitisers had soared, which was placing pressure on stock.
The pharmacy has also recorded people coming in wanting to stock up on medicines.
“We have not had any issues of not being able to get any of our medicine orders. There is nothing abnormal at the moment and we do not want people to worry and panic and think they have to stock five months of medication,” Ms Becker told The Border Watch yesterday.
“Panicking is one of the worst things and it is not fair for other people who need that medicine.
“Our hand sanitisers ran out a couple of days ago – the quantities we are getting from the suppliers are reducing.”
She said the issue was also pushing up the cost of some items for consumers and explained the chemist was “not hiking up” prices.
While the chemist had some face masks in stock, it is limiting the number people can purchase.
But she urged people to step up their hand-washing routine, which was the most effective way of reducing the risk of infections.
In fact, Ms Becker said hand washing was more effective than hand sanitisers and revealed masks were only effective for around two hours due to saturation levels.
She said masks were particularly effective during travel on aircraft or in crowded areas for short-term use.
Ms Becker also called on people not to let themselves “become run down”, not only due to the coronavirus but the looming influenza season.
“Increasing your immune system is the best way to keep healthy. Rest and keep an eye on your health. You do not want to be in a position that your immune system is weakened,” she said.
The pharmacist revealed this season’s flu vaccine would arrive shortly.
Meanwhile, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has also warned that panic buying of medicines is unnecessary.
Guild national president George Tambassis said pharmacists had professional and legal responsibilities to ensure appropriate and safe supply of prescription medicines and dispensing multiple repeats without good reason was inadvisable and outside the guidelines.
In some jurisdictions, he said it was a legal requirement to check with the prescribing doctor before issuing multiple prescriptions.
“The Pharmacy Guild is not aware of any medicine which is currently unavailable or in short supply in Australia specifically because of COVID-19,” Mr Tambassis said.
“Medication shortages and out of stocks have been part of the pharmacy landscape for the last couple of years threatening continuity of supply for patients and requiring numerous brand substitution changes for some patients, but these issues pre-dated and are entirely unrelated to coronavirus.”
Wholesalers have also reported higher than usual demand for prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
There is currently no recommendation from the chief medical officer, departments of health or any other public health authority of the need for patients to stockpile.
“Paradoxically, if panic buying does take hold for medicines and other products, shortages may well arise – and we certainly hope this can be avoided,” he said.
With surgical masks supplies reaching critically low levels, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) has also urged the Federal Government to step in to prevent widespread dental practice closures.
Mask supplies at a large number of dental practices across the nation are expected to run out within four weeks due to extraordinary demand caused by COVID-19.
“Without surgical masks, dentists cannot treat patients safely and we run the risk of people going without treatment,” ADA deputy chief executive officer Eithne Irving said.
“The ADA has been working intently with suppliers to locate new lines of supply, but we now believe that only the Federal Government can secure a supply of these masks to keep dentists’ doors open.
“The ADA has been advised that dentists cannot access the Government’s stockpile of masks, but that government is close to securing deals with two Australian manufacturers.
“We urge the government to corral some of that new supply for dentists across the nation.”
