COVID-19

As a professional medical college, it's our responsibility to put the safety of our members and the community we serve above all else.

We share regular updates from the Australian Government, Department of Health and the Aotearoa New Zealand Ministry of Health.

The RACP COVID-19 Living Narrative is a collation of approved policy and advocacy activities that have been undertaken by the College since March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes submissions, policy documents, webinars and other correspondence to government and key stakeholders on issues such as personal protective equipment (PPE), telehealth, COVID-19 vaccination and vaccination insurance schemes. It also includes advocacy activities and media releases regarding disability, aged care, children and young people, school closures, public health measures, healthcare worker infection, health system capacity and equity.  The COVID-19 Living Narrative will continue to be updated with key College work, progressed by the RACP COVID-19 Expert Reference Group.

Read our 2020 COVID-19 Learning Report (PDF) and 2021 member survey report Are you COVID-19 safe? (PDF).

What we're doing

Following advice from the Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Governments and recommendations for social distancing, we're postponing, cancelling or live streaming key events and ceremonies for the foreseeable future. CPD deadlines have been extended.

All committee meetings will be held virtually through our video conference provider, Zoom. Contact the relevant committee secretary for more information.

Education and training

We've changed some requirements and created a set of principles to guide our decision-making during COVID-19.

Advocacy

We have several advocacy activities underway to support you during COVID-19.

FAQs

Find answers to some frequently asked questions on COVID-19 here.


Advice and news

Australian Government Department of Health

The Department has developed a wide range of coronavirus (COVID-19) resources for health professionals, including aged care providers, pathology providers and healthcare managers.

PBS listing of molnupiravir

Commencing 1 March 2022 Lagevrio® (molnupiravir) will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Section 85 program as an Authority Required (Streamlined) benefit for patients with mild-moderate COVID 19 who have a high risk for developing severe disease, reducing the need for admission to hospital.

Information is available via the PBS website here.

Please note:
Not all prescribing software may have been updated to allow for ePrescribing and prescriptions may be unable to be uploaded to the Prescription Exchange Service. A standard paper based authority prescription may be supplied. 

As part of the COVID-19 National Health Plan, the National Health (COVID-19 Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Special Arrangement 2020 (The Special Arrangement) was implemented as an interim measure while Electronic Prescribing capability was still being implemented. Due to the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Special Arrangement has been extended until 31 March 2022. Factsheets for prescribers are available on the Department of Health’s website: COVID-19 National Health Plan – prescriptions via telehealth – a guide for prescribers

It is important that you update your prescribing software when appropriate to ensure the COVID-19 treatment item code changes are displayed. If you have updated your prescribing software and the item is still not appearing you can handwrite the prescription and obtain the streamlined code from the PBS website. 

 

COVID-19 Vaccines

Visit the following websites for up-to-date information about the COVID-19 vaccinations roll-out in your jurisdiction within Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Australian Department of Health

Aotearoa New Zealand Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora

ACT Health

NSW Health

NT Government | Immunisation: Health professionals

Queensland Government

SA Health

Tasmania Government

Victoria Government

Government of WA

Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) | Statements

Telehealth / virtual care

Australia

MBS telehealth

COVID-19 Temporary MBS Telehealth Services | Extended until 31 December 2021.

Australian Digital Health Agency | Electronic Prescribing

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency | Telehealth guidance for practitioners

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Association | Health Worker and Health Practitioner Exemplar Health Assessment (PDF)

MBS Online | The new COVID-19 Telehealth MBS items can now be claimed | Updated 2020

My Health Record | Registration overview
(Contact the Digital Health Agency at 1300 901 001 or help@digitalhealth.gov.au)


Aotearoa New Zealand

Ministry of Health | National Telehealth Service

NZ Telehealth Forum and Resource Centre | Your guide to telehealth in NZ

ACC | COVID-19 information for providers

Webinars

Impact of COVID-19 on First Nations communities: Australia | November 2022
COVID-19 now: vaccines, antiviral treatments, variants | August 2022
Supporting physician health and wellbeing | Download the Medflix video | April 2022
Psychosocial disruptions of COVID-19 and mental health needs of healthcare workers | March 2022
Brave New Normal World: COVID-19 where to from here? | February 2022
COVID-19 and children | December 2021
COVID-19 treatment | December 2021

Expert Reference Group (ERG) Long COVID 2-part webinar series

Understanding and managing long COVID | September 2021 | Medflix 
Living and working with long COVID | September 2021 | Medflix

General COVID-19

  • COVID-19 Vaccinations 4-part webinar series | March-April 2021 | Medflix
  • COVID-19 Symposia 3-part webinar series 2020 | Medflix

Telehealth

Webinars are recorded regularly. Check back for the latest information.

Telehealth and Electronic Prescribing Webinar | Accurate as of 8 April 2020

Telehealth and Electronic Prescribing Webinar | Accurate as of 1 April 2020

Pomegranate Health podcast | Episode 57: The Art of Telehealth

Media releases

Read our COVID-19 media releases

Aotearoa New Zealand position statements

Reset for equity: First dose of COVID-19 vaccines for Māori and Pasifika (PDF)

RACP Māori Health Committees’ Equity Statement on COVID-19 (PDF)

Social media

We share COVID-19 updates, resources and information on Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

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