Geraldine WilsonSome general practitioners have reported their patients were stockpiling, hoarding and panic-buying medications following the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic last year. A new University of Otago study released yesterday found the patients’ behaviour was caused by concerns their repeat supplies of medicines might be affected by border closures. Some of these issues might still be unresolved amid the present restrictions for some GPs and practices, she said. To counter this problem during last year’s lockdown, some practices proactively linked their high-needs patients to pharmacy home delivery services. Dr Wilson believed New Zealand could look at adopting a more formalised home medicine service as Australia had done, which would ensure more vulnerable patients had the medicines they needed delivered to their doors.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 02, 2021 16:30 UTC