VICTORIAN community pharmacist Angelo Pricolo has called on the Federal Government to improve access to the life-saving overdose drug naloxone by allowing pharmacists to dispense it directly under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) without the need for a separate script from a doctor.
Currently pharmacists can dispense naloxone as a Schedule 3 medicine, with the patient bearing the full cost, approximately $80.
However, if a doctor writes a prescription for naloxone it can be dispensed under PBS funding.
Pricolo is the Chair of the Harm Minimisation session at the APP2019 conference.
He was instrumental in securing the down-scheduling of naloxone in 2016 to improve access for patients.
Pricolo said he wants to hear details of how the government will utilise pharmacy to help roll out the broader accessibility of naloxone in the newly funded two-year trial take-home plan (PD 01 Mar).
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