Centre for Independent Studies goes after community pharmacy : 12/12/2008 :

In a report published yesterday, authored by political economist David Gadiel, the Centre for Independent Studies has taken a big swipe at community pharmacy in Australia.

The report claims that the regulatory environment that governs community pharmacy has created one of Australia’s most protected industries.

"It is a beneficiary of government largesse and central regulation and control in state, territory, and commonwealth jurisdictions. Entry barriers, ownership restrictions, exclusive rights to sell certain types of medicine scheduled as ‘poisons,’ and an exclusive agency relationship in distributing pharmaceuticals listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, have led to community pharmacy acquiring considerable market power."

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NPS recommendations to government on complementary medicine information : 12/12/2008 :

Recommendations have been made to Government following research conducted by the National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS) into the complementary medicine information needs and uses of consumers, GPs and pharmacists.

In the final reports released yesterday, NPS suggested a series of strategies and activities to ensure Australians are using complementary medicines safely and effectively.

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Poll Result: Christmas Decorations : 12/12/2008 :

Well Deck the Stores & Fa la la la la. It's official - AusPharm pharmacists are seriously partial to a spot of tinsel about the place!

Our latest poll asked whether the pharmacy you work in chose to display Christmas decorations - or not, out of deference to religious or cultural sensitivities in our increasingly multicultural society.

Of 110 respondents, an overwhelming majority (91%) of pharmacies do decorate for Christmas. Only 7% said they didn't decorate out of consideration to their customers who don't celebrate Christmas. The other 2 teensy smudges on the graph represent the 1% of folk who said they hadn't previously given thought to the issue of cultural sensitivity & the 1% of folk who just aren't into the whole bells & baubles & boughs & decking scene. Click link for more chart detail.

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Delaat: PBS an investment, not a cost : 11/12/2008 :

In a speech to the National Press Club yesterday, Medicines Australia Chairman Will Delaat urged the Government not to reduce funding for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in the 2009 Federal Budget. Mr Delaat said such a move would result in higher costs elsewhere in the healthcare system.

Mr Delaat said any cut to PBS spending would impact negatively on patient health outcomes. He said reducing the PBS as a short-term cost-saving measure would be a false economy.

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Sanofi letter causes a stir : 11/12/2008 :

Pharmacies received a faxed letter (here) on Tuesday from sanofi-aventis informing them that 'an error had occurred regarding the level of brand price premiums on several sanofi-aventis products'. The letter 'encouraged' pharmacists to charge a corrected PBS price with the 'correct' price to patients provided in the letter.

Sadly (for sanofi-aventis) there are 3 PBS claimable items on the list and, as all pharmacists know, reducing the price of these items is a big no no.

In a member newsletter sent to Guild members yesterday Guild President Kos Sclavos reminded members that they did not have any discretion to reduce the PBS price on claimable items. He expressed 'disappointment' that the Guild was not consulted by sanofi-aventis before they faxed the letter out.

First indigenous pharmacy completes her studies at Charles Darwin University : 11/12/2008 :

Indigenous Australian Simone Liddy, pictured below, recently completed the final year of her Bachelor of Pharmacy studies at the Northern Territory's Charles Darwin University. In addition to completing her studies, Simone maintained her status as an elite athlete with the Northern Territory Institute of Sport, representing the Territory in hockey and, in 2007, becoming a rookie member of the Northern Territory Pearls.

Simone is a member of the Northern Territory Indigenous Education Council and, in 2007, she was named NAIDOC Youth of the Year. Earlier this year Simone was named Northern Territory Young Australian of the Year for 2008. This year, Simone was also the recipient of a scholarship through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme.

Reform of PBS medication supply in aged care facilities and private hospitals - have your say : 10/12/2008 :

A review of PBS medication supply arrangements in residential aged care facilities and prviate hospitals is now underway. Read on to learn how you can provide input into the review.

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The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is designed to allow access to cost-effective and high-quality medicines for all Australians in a timely, reliable and affordable way. Since the 1950s the PBS system has worked well in the community setting.

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Poll: Christmas decorations in a multicultural Australia : 10/12/2008 :

Continuing with our Christmas themed polls for now....

The composition of the Australian population has changed big time in the last few decades. Whereas once upon a time the majority of the population would tick 'Christian' in their census form, the proportion doing in 2008 so would be far less.

Is it still appropriate to put up Christmas decorations in the pharmacy in a society where a bare majority (at best) are Christian?

What happens in the pharmacy you work in - please let us know by ticking the relevant box in today's AusPharm poll below.

Poll Result: Christmas Gift Sales : 10/12/2008 :

With Christmas closing in, AusPharm got to wondering whether the sale of Christmas gift items still accounted for a significant proportion of trade in pharmacies in 2008.

Thanks to the 99 'Listers who responded, we learned that the trade in Christmas gifts remains a significant proportion of sales in 45% of respondents' pharmacies. 24% of respondents reported a moderate trade in sales of gift items and a further 12% described a limited trade, with the store participating as much for "Christmas Cheer" as anything. The remaining 14% said the market was non-existent for them and they had elected to leave the trinkets and gift wrapping to other retailers.

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New NPS RADAR covers once daily tramadol, quetiapine : 09/12/2008 :

The latest issue of NPS RADAR (link), just released, contains reviews of new once-daily formulations of tramadol (Durotram XR) and quetiapine (Seroquel XR).

According to NPS Deputy CEO Karen Kay, “With a number of tramadol formulations now available, with different dosing frequencies and brand names, it’s particularly important to provide clear information to patients to avoid confusion and possible errors.”

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Phone A Friend: Pharmacist's Support Service to go National : 09/12/2008 :

Since 1995, Victorian pharmacists have had access to a free, confidential, 24-hour telephone support service. Staffed by volunteer pharmacists with extensive counselling and support training, the Pharmacist's Support Service (PSS) is an initiative of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Victorian Branch.

Now, thanks to a $15,000 grant of seeding funding provided by Pharmaceutical Defence Limited (PDL), the service is set to expand into states beyond Victoria.

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RGH E-Bulletin: Other therapies for prevention / treatment of dementia (part 1) : 08/12/2008 :

The topic of this week's RGH E-Bulletin is Other therapies for prevention / treatment of dementia (part 1).

"Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are the main classes of medications currently available to help manage cognitive ymptoms of dementia, but neither of these alters the underlying pathology of the dementia, and neither is indicated for revention of dementia. A number of other drugs/therapies have been suggested as having possible benefits in the revention and treatment of dementia, but evidence is limited. Next week’s E-bulletin will also outline evidence for inkgo biloba, statins, hormone therapy, NSAIDs, and vitamin E."

Click here to read the bulletin in full.

The E-Bulletin is archived and previous editions can be viewed on the AusPharm website here.

MIMS December 2008 Prescribing Update : 08/12/2008 :

The MIMS December 2008 prescribing update is now available. Click the link to read it now.

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Poll: is Christmas a *big thing* in your pharmacy? : 08/12/2008 :

Only 16 sleeps left until Christmas!  Is Christmas a *big thing* in your pharmacy? Does your pharmacy have a big gift section and really go for it during December? Or is Christmas trade something you leave to the 'retailers' in your location? Are you somewhere in the middle?

Please let us know what happens in your pharmacy by ticking the relevant box in the first of our polls with Christmas theme.

Poll Result: Disciplining Children in the Pharmacy : 08/12/2008 :

Following Irwin the Evil Chemist's feature  article on dealing with unruly children, we asked 'Listers to tell us how you tackle similar scenarios on your territory.

The results (n=105) suggest the majority of pharmacists (62%, illustrated in orange) tend to take an active role in controlling unruly children in the pharmacy. Most respondents indicated they would either verbally discipline the children themselves (26%) or request that the parents discipline the children (25%). Only 4% of respondents indicated they would take the somewhat riskier tack of dishing out some physical discipline to the children themselves.

Of those favouring a more passive approach (38%, illustrated in blue), most elected to either allow the parents to discipline their children (17%) or ignore the children's bad behaviour (15%).

Click on the link to see more detail.

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Webstercare December newsletter : 05/12/2008 :

Every second month our friends at Webstercare produce a newsletter that is distributed to all aged care homes throughout Australia.

They have kindly agreed to allow 'listers to access the newsletter through the (e)news. Each issue contains a Continuing Education feature and, while this is designed to be read by RACF staff, pharmacists will also find it interesting and, hopefully, enlightening as well.

Click here to download the Webstercare December 2008 newsletter in full (1.3mg pdf). Click here if you have any feedback, suggestions or queries about the newsletter.

NPS responds to ADRAC reports on Champix : 05/12/2008 :

The National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) has advised people taking the quit-smoking drug varenicline (marketed in Australia as Champix) to speak to their GP or pharmacist or contact Medicines Line (1300 888 763) if they are concerned about possible side effects.

This follows concerns raised in the December ADRAC Bulletin relating to a number of adverse reaction reports for varenicline which included depression, aggression, agitation, abnormal dreams, insomnia, hallucination and anger as well as reports of suicidal/self-injurious ideation or behaviour.

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API appoint Michael Wooldridge Lead independent Director : 05/12/2008 :

The Board of API yesterday announced the appointment of Former Howard Government Health Minister Dr Michael Wooldridge as 'Lead independent' Director. Dr Wooldridge was first appointed to the API Board in February 2006.

The Lead Independent Director can assume the role of Chair when the Chair is unavailable or unable to act in that capacity due to lack of independence. The position also offers an alternative point of contact for shareholders.

Dr Wooldridge's appointment follows the recent retirement of Barry Frost as Deputy Chairman and Director of API.

Poll: Controlling unruly children : 04/12/2008 :

Irwin the Evil Chemist's latest  feature article about coping with screaming brats at the coal face has inspired AusPharm to enquire how all the other coal-miners cope with similar scenarios.

Do you roar your head off? Keep mum and fervently pray the parents will take things in hand before too much stock gets damaged? Or maintain a resident dragon-lady on staff to mete out ad hoc justice?

We look forward to hearing how you deal with unruly children in your workplace. Please tell us by participating in this week's AusPharm poll below.

NPS findings on attitudes towards complementary medicines : 03/12/2008 :

GPs and pharmacists believe they don’t have enough access to evidence-based information about complementary medicines* and as a result are not confident discussing complementary medicines with their patients, according to preliminary findings from research into the information needs of consumers, GPs and pharmacists conducted by the National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS).

The NPS research included determining the attitudes of consumers, GPs and pharmacists towards complementary medicines; communication about complementary medicine use; information sources; and information gaps and needs. Reports on the research findings are due for public release in early December.

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