Are pharmacies open on Christmas Day, Easter and Anzac Day?

Can pharmacies open on Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day?

Yes. These are the days when state trading laws close most shops, but in every state pharmacies are among the shops allowed to open, some with conditions.

In NSW, any shop may open on Boxing Day if its staff freely choose to work. WA’s rules apply in the south of the state, and outside Perth most shops close on every public holiday.

Will my pharmacy be open?

Being allowed to open doesn’t mean a pharmacy will. It’s the owner’s choice, and a pharmacy that opens on a public holiday may keep different hours from usual. The hours in the directory are each pharmacy’s usual hours, so they don’t tell you about public holidays.

How do I find a pharmacy open on a public holiday?

1. Call first. Each pharmacy’s page in the directory has its phone number when we have one, and in Near me each listing with a number has a Call button.
2. Try a 24-hour pharmacy. The directory lists 9 24-hour pharmacies in Australia, open 24 hours, 7 days a week in their usual hours. Call ahead on a public holiday all the same.
3. Look further afield. Browse pharmacies by state to find others in nearby suburbs and towns, then call to check.
4. Ask healthdirect. Its Service Finder lists pharmacies by location, and its helpline on 1800 022 222 can tell you where to get help in your area.

If someone is seriously unwell, don’t wait for a pharmacy: call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department. For the other options, read where to get medicine and care after hours.

How do I avoid running out over the holidays?

Check your medicines a week or two before Christmas or Easter. If you’ll run out over the break, fill your next script early, or see your doctor for a new one while the practice is open. An eScript can be filled at any pharmacy that accepts electronic prescriptions, which helps if you’re travelling. Read how eScripts and the Active Script List work.

If you do run out, a pharmacist can usually help without a script. In most states and territories they can give you 3 days’ supply of most medicines. If your doctor can’t be reached, they can also supply some regular PBS medicines, such as those for asthma, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease, under Continued Dispensing, once in any 12 months. Read what to do if you run out of medicine with no script.