Many travelling patients who realise they have forgotten their medicine will go without, which poses serious risks to treatment adherence, and can cause adverse health impacts down the line.
Instead of forgoing treatment, the Guild recommends that patients speak to the local community pharmacist at their destination.
From late 2023, community pharmacies will be able to prescribe medicines for a wide range of everyday health issues.
Until then, emergency dispensing arrangements allow for pharmacists to dispense small amounts of certain medicines in absence of a script, allowing patients time to see a doctor and obtain a prescription.
“We want to make it as clear as possible to patients that these options are available to them”, said the Guild’s NSW Branch President, David Heffernan.
“Far too often, we hear from patients who realise they have forgotten their medicine, don’t have a script, and don’t know what to do. We want people to know that they don’t have to go without.”
“If you find yourself in this situation, speak to a nearby pharmacist to discuss what options are available and see if you can get your medicine under an emergency or continued dispensing arrangement until you’re able to obtain a script.”