Awareness of the drugs, Lagevrio and Paxlovid, has increased in recent weeks, largely thanks to media coverage. However, there is still some way to go.
Australian Medical Association vice president Dr Chris Moy said the peak body was working with authorities to further advertise the antivirals.
One of the biggest challenges remained getting people to take them within five days of their symptoms starting, the mandatory timeframe for access.
They also have to test positive for the virus before taking them.
"In the five-day window, sometimes some people are not getting tested in time," Dr Moy told AAP.
"There is (also) a subgroup who probably would never want it anyway … some of that may be those who have been not keen on vaccination previously."
Dr Moy said it was incumbent on the health system to make Australians aware antivirals were an important second line of defence to alleviate the risk of severe disease.
"It could make the difference between life and death on some people and also reduce the chances of them ending up in hospital," he said.
The antiviral drugs are listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and can be accessed in accordance with its guidelines, but there are also state-based regulations that can vary.
"And also some of them don't match the PBS guidelines," Dr Moy said.
"It's sometimes difficult for a GP to work out what to do when they find a patient is caught between differing criteria."
Some sufferers could be referred to state authorities to get the medication.
Dr Moy said authorities were looking at simplifying guidelines for the antiviral drugs' distribution so there could be harmony across the board.
LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA:
NSW: 8201 cases, 21 deaths, 1263 in hospital with 40 in ICU
Victoria: 8903 cases, 22 deaths, 517 in hospital with 29 in ICU
Tasmania: 624 cases, one death, 37 in hospital with one in ICU
NT: 250 cases, one death, 16 in hospital with none in ICU.
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