Pharmacists call out stockpiling

LOCAL pharmacies are urging people to stop hoarding medications amid the coronavirus pandemic, as distribution warehouses across the country struggle to keep up with demand.

Pharmacist Sarah Broughton said Torquay Pharmacy had been inundated with prescriptions in the last three weeks despite stern federal government messages on stockpiling.

She said some people were having to miss out on medications, particularly insulin and Ventolin, until supplies were replenished.

“Our distribution warehouse can’t keep up with the increased demand.

“They haven’t got enough trucks, or fridges, or room in their trucks to get the orders to us, so because of that we are either getting orders a few days later, or they’re not including everything in the order. Some people are missing out on the things they really need.”

Ms Broughton said the lack of accessibility was not a manufacturing fault but that of an overwhelmed system.

“It’s not so much that the warehouse doesn’t have any more, they still have stock, they just can’t get stock out to us as quickly as what we’re needing it.

“As far as the government’s telling us, there’s no supply issue, that’s why we’re telling people only get what you need.”

Ms Broughton said storing too many medicines could be dangerous, especially in households with young children and/or pets who might accidentally take them.

Nerida Packham, pharmacist and Medicines Line manager at NPS MedicineWise, mirrored these sentiments and said it was not necessary to have more than a month’s supply of prescriptions at any given time.

“There is no need to stockpile large quantities of medicines you or your family take.

“Having much more than a month’s supply of medicines is generally not necessary and comes with extra costs and medicine safety risks.”

Torquay Pharmacy has also experienced an increased demand in over the counter treatments such as children’s and adult Panadol, with the Gilbert Street store awaiting a new order.

Hand sanitiser, masks and thermometer sales have also skyrocketed.