Alfred pharmacists step up for the state
When COVID-19 antivirals were first introduced, prescribers had a lot of questions. The Alfred Pharmacy team stepped in to answer them – setting up a state-wide helpline in less than two weeks.
The Victorian COVID Therapies PBS Prescriber Helpline service began in May 2022 and wrapped up in April 2023, with Alfred Health pharmacists taking more than 2500 calls from across Victoria and Tasmania.
The key focus of the service was to answer questions from GPs and nurse practitioners about prescribing oral antivirals, and to provide advice on eligibility, drug interactions, dosing, and choice of agent. The helpline also fielded prescribing enquiries for tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld®) and remdesivir (Veklury®).
The feedback for the helpline was overwhelmingly positive. Prescribers valued the advice of highly knowledgeable pharmacists during a time of evolving approaches to the use of antivirals, navigating PBS eligibility criteria and ensuring drug interactions with Paxlovid® were avoided.
While it has finished for now, the service is able to be stood up in the future if required. Sincere thanks to the extraordinary team of sixteen pharmacists that helped provide this service during a very challenging time.
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