Aussies are understandably anxious about the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19), especially when they're seeing bare supermarket shelves, unprecedented levels of stockpiling and are now having to remain at home and maintain social distancing when out and about for allowed activities.
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The fact the Prime Minister is having to remind us to look out for each other is a frightening - but fair - assessment of the situation we're in.
But the advice from our leaders and health experts is clear.
There is enough for everyone, if we don't go over the top with stockpiling.
As a pharmacist in regional NSW, it's distressing to see people trying to stockpile medications. Pharmacists often battle medicine shortages.
We can handle that. What we can't handle is people buying medication unnecessarily.
Like other essentials, if people only bought the medication they needed, we wouldn't run out.
Stockpiling medications is harmful and could result in people whose survival depends on certain medications, not having the medications they need.
To ensure no one - especially the most vulnerable - is left without critical medication, the Pharmacy Guild has worked with government to bring in measures to stop stockpiling.
These measures mean you can only get one months' supply of prescription medication and pharmacists will only dispense one pack of other over the counter medication. That means, for example, one bottle of Panadol syrup, asthma puffer, or pack of cholesterol-lowering medication, per person.
So, if you go to your pharmacy and your medication is out of stock, it's not because someone else bought it unnecessarily. And if a patient needs their medication but doesn't have a script, thanks to changes by the NSW and federal government, Australians can now get up to a months' supply of their usual medication, without a script - at PBS prices.
This makes it easier for Australians to get their usual medication and busy doctors don't have to use valuable consultations writing repeat prescriptions.
Uncertainty is the only thing we can be certain of during this time, but now especially, we need to look after our fellow Australians. Leading up to ANZAC day, it's a timely reminder of our Australian fighting spirit during times of hardship. We look out for, and after, our mates.
