Is your pharmacy prepared for an emergency?

You probably won’t get much warning before an emergency. Therefore it is important to have an emergency management plan in place to prepare you and your business for unexpected disruptions. It is important to be ready for all sorts of emergencies:

  • Natural - such as floods, drought, fire, landslides and storms
  • Human caused - such as crime, terrorism or riots
  • Technological - such as explosions, building or bridge collapse

During an emergency the main aim is to ensure your pharmacy continues operating and providing patients with access to medications. This webpage will discuss how to prepare your pharmacy and staff for an emergency.

Pharmacy Insurance It is important to check that your insurance covers you for potential risk. Read your product disclosure statement carefully.

Pharmacy Business Location Ensure your pharmacy property is suitable

Back-up and Secure your Data

List of Emergency Contacts Keep a list of emergency phone numbers in a secure and accessible location

Developing an Emergency Management Plan

An emergency management plan includes 3 separate plans to assist you before, during and after an emergency.

  1. The continuity plan - identifies risks, critical areas and how best to protect them.
  2. The emergency action plan - helps you and your staff know what to do in an emergency situation.
  3. The recovery plan - guides your pharmacy's recovery after an emergency.

Emergency Management Plan Template

Business.gov.au have created an emergency management and recovery plan template which takes you through the process of creating a tailored plan for your pharmacy and can be downloaded here.

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Page last updated on: 27 May 2021