Queensland to guarantee protective equipment for health services

The Palaszczuk Government will create a Clinical Stock Reserve to ensure our frontline services always have the supplies and equipment they need to care for the community.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said the COVID-19 pandemic had shown that changes needed to happen to clinical stock supply arrangements, both within Australia and globally.

“Queenslanders have done exceptionally well during the COVID-19 pandemic, but we have to remain vigilant given that the virus has the potential to rapidly re-emerge,” Deputy Premier Miles said.

“Our doctors, nurses, paramedics, police officers, corrections staff – all our frontline workers – deserve to have access to the necessary supplies and equipment to keep them safe, support their work for the community and enable them to continue to deliver the outstanding services that they provide.”

Queensland Health will lead the initiative, working with other key government departments such as Treasury, the Departments of Premier and Cabinet, Housing and Public Works, Regional Development and Manufacturing, and others.

“We have traditionally relied on international trade relationships and suppliers, as well as domestic supply chains, for our supplies, and this will continue.

“But the COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that we cannot always rely entirely on these arrangements and that we must seek ways to mitigate the impacts of emergencies and severe disruptive events on these supply chains.

“One of the ways we can do this is to have a strategic reserve of supplies always available in Queensland, and that is why we’re creating the Queensland Clinical Stock Reserve

“This will put Queensland in a strong position, enhancing the resilience of our supply chain and storage networks for critical supplies such as surgical masks, gloves, key pharmaceuticals, hand sanitiser and other goods vital to maintaining our services and supporting our frontline workers.

“Our businesses and industry also need certainty, and Queensland businesses and manufacturers have a key role to play in the supply chain, and in stocking the reserve.”

ENDS

Media contact:               Katharine Wright – 0428 957 903