A push to allow access to COVID-19 treatments without a prescription could jeopardise patient safety, warns the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) warns.
There are two oral antivirals available in Australia, and while early treatment is critical to lessen the effects of the virus, access is restricted.
All Australians over 70 and people over 50 at risk of severe disease from COVID-19 are eligible to access the treatments, and patients need a prescription from a GP or a nurse practitioner.
Australia’s pharmacy body is asking the federal government to consider allowing the medications to be supplied over the counter to allow people to have faster access to them upon infection….