Pharmacies struggling to stock certain medications due to COVID-19

The Institute for Integrated Economic Research released a report last year titled Australia's Medicine Supply which revealed Australia imports about 90 per cent of its medicines.

The report said Australia was "at the end of a very long global supply chain making the nation vulnerable to supply chain disruptions."

Various regional pharmacies have felt the effects of this.

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PharmaSave Ararat pharmacist manager Jason Hosemans said there are presently some prescription medications that were difficult to source.

"There are a couple of lines that are a bit difficult to get," he said.

"It's been the case throughout COVID, and it's been worse at times for sure. There's been some items that have been really hard to get."

Mr Hosemans said the pharmacy had taken different measures to ensure its clients are happy.

"We've had to change people to similar medications to get them through," he said.

"Either through getting a new script from the doctor, or perhaps if they need the 100mg, giving them two lots of 50mg. We just have to get through with what we've got."

Mr Hosemans said many other pharmacies were experiencing these problems.

"Sometimes there might be one pharmacy that's got a few of a line left. It depends how long they've been out for, but it's usually the same everywhere."

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