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Toilet Paper, Minced Meat and Diabetes Medicines: Australian Panic Buying Induced by COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Teyl Engstrom

    (Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia)

  • Dolly O. Baliunas

    (School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
    Dalla Lana School of Public Health, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada)

  • Benjamin P. Sly

    (Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
    Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia)

  • Anthony W. Russell

    (Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
    Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia)

  • Peter J. Donovan

    (Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia
    Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia)

  • Heike K. Krausse

    (Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia)

  • Clair M. Sullivan

    (Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
    Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia)

  • Jason D. Pole

    (Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
    Dalla Lana School of Public Health, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the management of non-communicable diseases in health systems around the world. This study aimed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on diabetes medicines dispensed in Australia. Publicly available data from Australia’s government subsidised medicines program (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme), detailing prescriptions by month dispensed to patients, drug item code and patient category, was obtained from January 2016 to November 2020. This study focused on medicines used in diabetes care (Anatomical Therapeutical Chemical code level 2 = A10). Number of prescriptions dispensed were plotted by month at a total level, by insulins and non-insulins, and by patient category (general, concessional). Total number of prescriptions dispensed between January and November of each year were compared. A peak in prescriptions dispensed in March 2020 was identified, an increase of 35% on March 2019, compared to average growth of 7.2% in previous years. Prescriptions dispensed subsequently fell in April and May 2020 to levels below the corresponding months in 2019. These trends were observed across insulins, non-insulins, general and concessional patient categories. The peak and subsequent dip in demand have resulted in a small unexpected overall increase for the period January to November 2020, compared to declining growth for the same months in prior years. The observed change in consumer behaviour prompted by COVID-19 and the resulting public health measures is important to understand in order to improve management of medicines supply during potential future waves of COVID-19 and other pandemics.

Suggested Citation

  • Teyl Engstrom & Dolly O. Baliunas & Benjamin P. Sly & Anthony W. Russell & Peter J. Donovan & Heike K. Krausse & Clair M. Sullivan & Jason D. Pole, 2021. "Toilet Paper, Minced Meat and Diabetes Medicines: Australian Panic Buying Induced by COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-9, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6954-:d:584482
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Janni Leung & Jack Yiu Chak Chung & Calvert Tisdale & Vivian Chiu & Carmen C. W. Lim & Gary Chan, 2021. "Anxiety and Panic Buying Behaviour during COVID-19 Pandemic—A Qualitative Analysis of Toilet Paper Hoarding Contents on Twitter," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-16, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Guohua He & Zirun Hu, 2022. "A Model of Panic Buying and Workforce under COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Sallie-Anne Pearson & Nicole Pratt & Juliana de Oliveira Costa & Helga Zoega & Tracey-Lea Laba & Christopher Etherton-Beer & Frank M. Sanfilippo & Alice Morgan & Lisa Kalisch Ellett & Claudia Bruno & , 2021. "Generating Real-World Evidence on the Quality Use, Benefits and Safety of Medicines in Australia: History, Challenges and a Roadmap for the Future," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-20, December.

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