Posted by Michael Wonder on 13 Mar 2020
TGA response to coronavirus (COVID-19)
13 March 2020 - As part of the Department of Health, the Therapeutic Goods Administration is providing active support for monitoring a number of issues relating to therapeutic goods including medicines and medical devices in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
As of 6 March 2020, the TGA has not received any notifications of medicine shortages in Australia that are a direct result of COVID-19. Therefore, while it may be appropriate for individuals to ensure that they have at least two weeks supply of prescription medicines in the unlikely event they are quarantined, any stockpiling of medicines is unnecessary.
Stockpiling by individuals could result in other consumers being unable to access particular medicines (e.g. from their local pharmacy). Stockpiling of any medicines at this time is not indicated and could result in patients not receiving the medicines that they require.
