COVID-19 antiviral treatments: Clinical guidelines and medicines access

Guidance for medical practitioners in South Australia on prescribing COVID-19 antiviral medicines and facilitating eligible patients access to treatment.

Updates from November 2025:

  • Supply arrangements: Since 1 May 2025, COVID-19 medicines have been available via the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) following the discontinuation of the Australian Government’s National Medical Stockpile pathway. 
  • Updated clinical guidelines: Publication of updated SA Health treatment guidelines for non-pregnant adult patients on 28 October 2025.
  • Referral process: Decommissioning of the statewide COVID-19 Outpatient Treatment Referral Portal effective 1 December 2025.

Updated clinical guidelines

These SA Health COVID-19 treatment guidelines have been developed by the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee and endorsed for statewide use by the South Australian Medicines Advisory Committee on 7 August 2025, in consultation with Infectious Diseases Heads of Units and Drug and Therapeutics Committees across SA Health.

For non-pregnant adults with mild illness in the outpatient setting

This clinical guideline addresses the use of disease-modifying treatments for COVID-19 in adults with mild illness who do not require supplemental oxygen or hospitalisation.

For non-pregnant adults in the hospital inpatient setting

This clinical guideline addresses the use of disease-modifying treatments for COVID-19 in hospitalised adults.

For pregnant women, please contact the birthing hospital directly.

Other useful resources

Access to COVID-19 antiviral medicines

Oral antivirals

The following oral antivirals for the treatment of COVID-19 are listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and can be dispensed through pharmacies. For current usage restrictions,please refer to the PBS web pages below:

Remdesivir

Remdesivir is an intravenous antiviral which may be used for the treatment of COVID-19 in very high-risk patients, in accordance with the updated statewide clinical guidelines. Medical practitioners seeking to refer a patient for remdesivir treatment must contact the appropriate service listed below and provide the following information:

  • date the patient tested positive for COVID-19
  • reason for eligibility for remdesivir (including if/why oral antivirals are unsuitable)
  • complete medication list (including non-oral, PRN, complementary medicines, etc.)
  • recent renal function and heart rate results, if available
  • any cannulation difficulties, if applicable.

My Home Hospital will continue to provide remdesivir treatment in the community at no cost to eligible public patients in line with the updated statewide clinical guidelines in:

  • metropolitan Adelaide
  • Gawler and Mount Barker regions and surrounding areas.
  • the Southern Fleurieu Peninsula towns of Goolwa, Goolwa North, Goolwa South, Goolwa Beach, Middleton, Port Elliot, McCracken, Hayborough, Victor Harbor, and Encounter Bay.

Treatment outside My Home Hospital catchment area

For advice and consideration of outpatient remdesivir treatment outside My Home Hospital catchment areas, medical practitioners are requested to contact the appropriate service listed below for assessment and treatment consideration.

Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network (BHFLHN)
Email: Health.BHFLHNCOVIDCare@sa.gov.au
Phone: 0423 051 212

Flinders and Upper North Local Health Network (FUNLHN)

Eyre and Far North Local Health Network (EFNLHN)
Email: health.efnlhncovidreferrals@sa.gov.au
Phone: 0484 586 369

Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN)
Email: Health.MGDHSHospitalflowmanager@sa.gov.au
Phone: 0421 583 939

Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN)

Yorke and Northern Local Health Network
Email: health.ynlhncovidcare@sa.gov.au
Phone: 0405 031 995