Pharmacists selling COVID-19 antivirals over-the-counter ruled out
A government response says it would not be legal to allow pharmacists to dispense antivirals without a doctors' script.
The Federal Government has rejected a proposal that pharmacists be allowed to sell antiviral treatments for COVID-19 over the counter, saying it would be illegal to do so.
Handing down its response to a House of Representatives inquiry into long COVID, the government said such antiviral treatments should only be available to patients with a prescription from a doctor.
The long COVID inquiry produced its findings in April 2023 and made nine recommendations, which included a nationally co-ordinated research program into the condition.
While the report urged that eligible patients under the PBS be able to access antivirals at pharmacies, the government said it did not support that call.
