Poll: should ADR reporting be made mandatory? : 27/02/2013 :

'Listers may have seen media last weekend in which the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) called for the reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) by health professionals to the TGA to be made mandatory. At present only nine per cent of reported cases are provided by this group of professionals, the report said.

Without mandatory reporting, there was a danger that safety issues involving certain medications will go undetected, RACP warns. The group also flagged the possibility of paying clinicians to report ADRs.

What do you think? Please let us know by voting in today's AusPharm poll.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Registration opens for CPExpo 2013 : 27/02/2013 :

Registration is now open for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Clinical and Practice Expo (CPExpo), to be held at the Hordern Pavilion, Sydney from 31 May-2 June.

The PSA’s NSW President, John Bronger OAM, in officially opening event registration said, “The PSA is totally focussed on building the skills’ set for pharmacists individually and collectively for the future that will enable them to navigate the ‘perfect storm’ the pharmacy profession is currently enveloped in. There is a chance to thrive, not just survive in these challenging times."

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

WA pharmacists get Pharmacists’ Support Service : 25/02/2013 :

From today, the  Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS) is available to Western Australian pharmacists.

PSS offers support to pharmacists who wish to talk to a colleague about any issue at all, including workplace stresses, pharmacy practice matters, work or personal pressures, health issues including mental health concerns and drug and alcohol misuse.  PSS provides discreet and non-judgemental peer support.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

RGH E‑Bulletin: Medications and wound healing : 25/02/2013 :

The topic of this week's RGH E‑Bulletin is Medications and wound healing.

"In Australia chronic wounds are a major burden on the healthcare system. It is estimated that each year chronic wounds cost Australia $2.6 billion dollars and affect 433,000 Australians. Wound healing is a complex process and often can be delayed by local factors (e.g. inadequate blood supply) and systemic factors (e.g. medications)."

Click here to read the bulletin in full. The E‑Bulletins are archived on the AusPharmList website here.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Peak generics group details its logic : 25/02/2013 :

Following criticism by Medicines Australia last week of its claims that using generics saves the PBS money, the Generic Medicnes Industry Association (GMiA) yesterday moved to more clearly explain its position.

GMiA recently highlighted that 4% of PBS cost currently went to originator brands where a generic alternative was already available. It claimed that policy initiatives to reduce this percentage had the potential to save the PBS up to $205 million.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Pharmacists reminded of CPA5 program compliance obligations : 25/02/2013 :

The Department of Human Services has circulated to pharmacists details of its current pharmacy compliance program.

Originally released in December, the Compliance Program 2012–­13 reveals that the focus will be on Fifth Agreement initiatives, including...

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Money pledged for proposed accredited pharmacists organisation : 25/02/2013 :

Over $15,000 has now been pledged by accredited pharmacists interested in exploring the potential for the formation of a new pharmacy organisation to represent pharmacists conducting medication reviews.

Discussion on such an organisation forming emerged in the washup to the recent HMR 'moratorium' controversy with some accredited pharmacists feeling that the larger organisations were not adequately representing the specific needs of accredited pharmacists conducting medication reviews. Accredited pharmacist Dr Peter Tenni subsequently called for expressions of interest from fellow accredited pharmacists interested in exploring the potential for a new group to be formed.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

RMMR report writing service pulled : 22/02/2013 :

The NSW branch of the Pharmacy Guild, operating as Guild Clinical, has withdrawn a Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) report writing service it was offering after concerns were raised about its compliance with the RMMR program rules.

According to the webpage promoting the service:

Guild Members can take advantage of the Guild Clinical RMMR Report Writing Service. Our team of accredited pharmacists can write your RMMR report for you.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

ACCC goes after homeopathy website : 22/02/2013 :

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission yesterday instituted Federal Court proceedings over claims made on the Homeopathy Plus! website regarding the effectiveness of the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine.

The claims on the website include statements that the whooping cough vaccine is “unreliable” and “largely ineffective” in preventing whooping cough and that homeopathic remedies are a safe and effective alternative for the prevention and treatment of whooping cough. The ACCC alleges that these claims are misleading and deceptive and are, therefore, in breach of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Few pharmacists getting four weeks holiday : 22/02/2013 :

In the 'good old days' (still?) 4 weeks annual holiday was considered normal.

If the results of this week's poll are a true reflection of the pharmacy workforce as a whole, fewer than 40% of us get that many holidays each year with more than 40% of poll respondents taking 10 or fewer days leave last year.

The 17% of respondents who told us they took more than 30 days last year are presumably drawn from a group who've saved up holidays for an extended break, perhaps an overseas trip.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

AusPharm CPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease : 21/02/2013 :

The next AusPharm CPD topic for 2013 is  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - it's been put together for us by Angus Thompson.

"COPD is a chronic progressive lung condition, with 85-90% of all cases being associated with cigarette smoking. COPD has a huge impact on those individuals it affects and it is predicted to become the third largest cause of death in the world within the next decade. The only intervention that has been proven to slow COPD progression is smoking cessation. Nonetheless drug therapy can play an important role to relieve symptoms, increase exercise tolerance, improve quality of life, and reduce exacerbation and hospitalisation rates."

This activity has been accredited for 1 hour of Group One CPD (1 CPD Credit) that may be converted to 2 Group Two CPD Credits upon successful completion of the corresponding assessment for inclusion on an individual pharmacist's CPD Record. Accreditation number: A1302AP0.

Click here to do this Continuing Professional Development activity. Or, if you prefer, you might like to take a look at our other CE activities here .

AusPharm gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the sponsors of our CE program, MIMS.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Medicines Australia Chairman moves on : 21/02/2013 :

Medicines Australia Chairman, Mark Masterson, is to leave the role to take up a new business opportunity in a leadership role with a technology company.

Mr Mark Fladrich, the managing director of AstraZeneca Australia and New Zealand and a Medicines Australia director, will be acting Chairman until a new independent Chair is appointed.

The Medicines Australia board will shortly commence a search for a replacement independent Chair.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Calcium supplements and CVD risk : 21/02/2013 :

Yesterday, in AusPharmList, 'lister Nick Backhouse referred to an article in the current Australian Prescriber regarding cardiovascular disease risk with the use of calcium supplements.

As Nick pointed out, while study’s authors concede to some controversy surrounding the results they go on to state “Widespread use of calcium supplements to prevent fractures is therefore no longer appropriate”.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Poll: how many days holiday did you take in 2012? : 20/02/2013 :

Pharmacists who work 'full  time' are busy people, right? Too busy even to take holidays...

Did you get a proper break from work last year? How many days holiday did you take in 2012?

Please let us know by ticking the relevant box in today's AusPharm poll.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

March 2013 PBS schedule : 20/02/2013 :

Download the Full PBS schedule

Download the PBS Summary of changes

Download the Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy – S100 Arrangements Supplement

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Hep C drugs to be PBS listed : 20/02/2013 :

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek announced yesterday that it would PBS lists boceprevir (Victrelis®) and telaprevir (Incivo®), for people at least 18 years old with a certain type of chronic hepatitis C (genotype 1). PBS costs are expected to top $220 million over the first five years.

The date on which the drugs will be PBS listed has not been announced.

See our regular PBS update below for details of the March 1 PBS changes.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Post-Market Review of PBS Medicines Used to Treat Asthma in Children : 19/02/2013 :

The Department of Health and Ageing is conducting a post-market review of medicines used to treat asthma in children, and is seeking comment from interested parties.

The objective of the review is to systematically evaluate the body of evidence regarding asthma medicine interventions to ensure the most appropriate management of children with asthma. Drugs included in the review are: salmeterol with fluticasone, eformoterol with budesonide, beclomethasone dipropionate, ciclesonide, sodium cromoglycate and nedocromil sodium, montelukast, and eformoterol.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Had a success? Tell us about it..... : 19/02/2013 :

'Listers may recall we republished an article in January, The 'List, the Man, and the Eye', written (beautifully!) by Sydney community pharmacist Veronica Nou and originally published on AusPharm in June 2011.

In it, Veronica, pictured at right, describes a clinical encounter in which she decides that the patient she has in front of her may well be at acute risk of stroke. Displaying excellent communication skills and
clinical judgment, Veronica convinced the man to visit a doctor urgently where he promptly ... had a stroke.

AusPharm thinks there must be plenty of stories out there where pharmacists have used their diverse skill set to produce a positive patient outcome, perhaps like the example above, a stunningly positive outcome.

In partnership with Associate Professor Chris Alderman, AusPharm would like to publish other stories highlighting the valuable role played by pharmacists in the health system.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Clinical trial, research reforms welcomed by industry : 19/02/2013 :

Both Medicines Australia and the Generic Medicines Industry association have praised the government for confirming support for clinical trials and medical research in its A Plan for Australia Jobs statement, announced on Sunday.

According to the Chairman of the Generic Medicines Industry Association (GMiA), Dr Martin Cross, the weekend’s release of the statement is good news for Australian patients.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

RGH E‑Bulletin: Apixaban for prevention of stroke/systemic embolism in AF : 18/02/2013 :

The topic of this week's RGH E‑Bulletin is Apixaban for prevention of stroke/systemic embolism in AF.

"Apixaban is a direct oral factor Xa inhibitor which is currently approved for subsidised supply through the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing total knee or knee replacement. In the ARISTOTLE trial (randomized and double-blinded), the efficacy of apixaban 5 mg twice daily (2.5mg twice daily used in subset of patients predicted to have higher exposure to the drug), was compared to warfarin (target INR of 2 to 3) in 18,201 patients with atrial fibrillation and at least one additional risk factor for stroke."

Click here to read the bulletin in full. The E‑Bulletins are archived on the AusPharmList website here.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Click here to go to the old "Industry News" page (pre 01/09/2006).