Govt places limits on buying medicines

As fearful customers empty shelves of some key medicines, the government has stepped in to stop the panic buying by putting limits on certain products.

PHARMACIES will limit the sales of prescription and over-the-counter medicines to reduce panic buying of critical items such as Ventolin and paracetamol.

Deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly today announced the changes, saying there were no concerns about generalised shortages of any products, but some localised shortages in certain pharmacies were raising community fears.

Coronavirus QLD: Police at Brisbane Coles as shelves restocked

‘We’re coming after you’: Dutton warns grocery hoarders, major move to restock shelves

Queensland’s 144 coronavirus cases breakdown

The government has slapped new limits on certain pharmacy medications after reports of panic buying of items such as paracetamol and ventolin.

Under the changes, pharmacies will only be able to dispense a month’s worth of certain prescription medications (see list below).

Other over-the-counter medicines such as ventolin and other salbutamol puffers and paracetamol will be limited to a maximum of one unit per purchase, he said.

Pharmacists will also have to place all children’s paracetamol behind counters and are being strongly encouraged to limit dispensing sales of all other medicines to one month’s supply or unit.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly has urged people not to panic-buy medicines.

“This is very important and a very strong message and it’s something we can do as a national government so we have done that today,” Prof Kelly said.

Prof Kelly pleaded with customers to buy only what they needed.

He also listed the five key things people should be doing to stop the spread of COVID-19.

* Wash hands regularly

* Sneeze into your elbow

* Don’t touch your face

* Socially distance to 1.5m

* Stay home if you are sick

Prof Kelly again maintained there was no current need to shut schools, saying circumstances in Australia were “very different” from other countries such as the UK where schools will be closed from Friday.