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"These four medicines listings are part of the Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring Australians can access affordable medicines when they need them most," said health minister Greg Hunt.

The Pharmacy Guild and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia welcomed the range of measures extended or implemented to help ensure access to medicines while MedAdvisor says it will launch a telehealth service.

AusBiotech has urged the federal government to fast track cash refunds under the R&D Tax Incentive and drop proposed cuts to the program.

The ACCC has granted full-line PBS wholesalers an interim authorisation enabling them to co-operate on the supply and distribution of medicines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health minister Greg Hunt is expected to extend the emergency 'continued dispensing' arrangements, one country blocked Australia's attempt to export purchased health equipment, investors have backed health companies, while a new alliance of Victorian-based organisations to support cancer treatment.

The information from market intelligence firm NostraData has revealed the extent to which the prescribing and dispensing of medicines spiked in just a few weeks from mid-February to March.

More concession cards, higher prescription volume, more people qualifying for the safety net - and earlier - almost certainly means higher spending on the PBS.

Merck Healthcare has announced the significant expansion of its volunteering program to support Australians impacted by COVID-19.

Johnson & Johnson has announced the selection of a lead COVID-19 vaccine candidate and an extraordinary commitment to providing one billion doses.

The pharmaceutical sector is now working to predict the short-term impact on demand for their medicines given the rising incidence of COVID-19.

In a special comment, Dr Brendan Shaw, the principal of Shawview Consulting, former CEO of MS and and assistant director-general of the IFPMA, says the PBS and Australian pharmaceutical policy have suffered some shocks in the past but nothing compares to COVID-19.

Some of the pharmaceutical sector's key representative groups have gone to the competition regulator seeking interim authorisations allowing collaboration on medicines supply during the COVID-19 crisis.