Industry criticism of Blackmores / Guild deal continues unabated. Marcus Blackmore, Guild respond : 29/09/2011 :

Criticism continued yesterday of the Blackmore's / Guild deal that will see Guildcare software prompt pharmacists to consider recommending one of four Blackmore's products to patients receiving certain prescription medicines. 

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The ABC of the PBAC - How medicines get on the PBS : 29/09/2011 :

For medicines to be listed on the PBS, they must first receive a positive recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee to the Minister for Health, a process that many pharmacists are not familiar with.
 
Outgoing Chair of the PBAC, Emeritus Professor Lloyd Sansom AO of the University of South Australia, will help clear up any mysteries about the process in his presentation at PAC11.

“The PBAC is required to consider the cost, effectiveness and cost effectiveness compared to the therapy (drug and/or non drug) that the new medicine will replace in practice,” Professor Sansom says.

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Poll (2): has the Blackmore's deal damaged pharmacists' credibility with consumers? : 29/09/2011 :

There has been lots of media coverage this week of the Blackmore's / Guild deal that will see Guildcare software prompt pharmacists to consider recommending one of four Blackmore's products to patients receiving certain prescription medicines.

AusPharm is going to run two snap polls this week to see whether 'listers think this issue has damaged the credibility of pharmacists with:

• doctors
• consumers.

Second, consumers. Please let us know what you think by voting in today's AusPharm poll. We'll publish the result tomorrow and, also tomorrow, we'll run another poll asking the same question with respect to consumers.

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High rates of mental health issues and risky health behaviours among Australia’s prisoners : 28/09/2011 :

Australia’s prisoners have high levels of mental health issues and risky health behaviours, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The health of Australia’s prisoners 2010 is the second AIHW report to examine prisoner health in Australia, using National Prisoner Health Indicators. It uses data from the National Prisoner Health Census, which was conducted over a two week period on all prison entrants, except those in New South Wales and Victoria (these jurisdictions will participate in the future).

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Controversy over Guild / Blackmore's deal continues to rage : 28/09/2011 :

Controversy continues to rage over the Blackmore's / Guild deal that will see Guildcare software prompt pharmacists to consider recommending one of four Blackmore's products to patients receiving certain prescription medicines. A number of pharmacy organisations weighed into the debate yesterday and there were also a number of posts to AusPharmList on the subject, not all condemning the deal. In a statement issued last night, a Guild spokesperson defended the deal.

Pharmacist employee union the Pharmacist Division of APESMA (PDA) urged people 'furious' with the Guild's deal with Blackmores to vent their concerns to the two parties concerned, not to employee pharmacists.

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Location rule modifications come into effect October 18 : 28/09/2011 :

A number of changes to the Pharmacy Location Rules are to be implemented with effect 18 October 2011.  Any application to establish a new pharmacy or relocate an existing pharmacy lodged on or after this date will be considered under the new Rules.

The Pharmacy Location Rules - Applicant’s Handbook 2011 has been developed to assist potential applicants in understanding the application process and requirements for relocating an existing pharmacy or establishing a new pharmacy under the new Rules.

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Poll (1): has the Blackmore's deal damaged pharmacists' credibility with doctors? : 28/09/2011 :

There has been lots of media coverage this week of the Blackmore's / Guild deal that will see Guildcare software prompt pharmacists to consider recommending one of four Blackmore's products to patients receiving certain prescription medicines.

AusPharm is going to run two snap polls this week to see whether 'listers think this issue has damaged the credibility of pharmacists with:

• doctors
• consumers.

First, doctors. Please let us know what you think by voting in today's AusPharm poll. We'll publish the result tomorrow and, also tomorrow, we'll run another poll asking the same question with respect to consumers.

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Guild endorsement of Blackmores CAMs backfires : 27/09/2011 :

In an opinion piece published in Pharmacy News last Friday Guild President Kos Sclavos wrote, "I was personally thrilled to assist in the launch this week of Blackmores’ new pharmacy only range of complementary medicines, the first range in Australia specially formulated for pharmacist recommendation with key prescribed medicines."

Given the controversy that erupted in mainstream media yesterday, following the publication of the Fairfax press coverage of the issue, it's a fair bet Mr Sclavos is a little less thrilled this morning.

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Review of Medicines Australia Code of Conduct : 27/09/2011 :

Medicines Australia has commenced a Review of its Code of Conduct and is inviting public submissions. The Medicines Australia Code of Conduct sets the standards of conduct for the activities of companies when engaged in the promotion of prescription products.

Medicines Australia chief executive Dr Brendan Shaw is encouraging health stakeholders, healthcare professionals, consumers and members of the public to contribute to the review.

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Mental Health in the Spotlight at PAC11 : 27/09/2011 :

Leading Australian mental health advocate and former Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry AO, will be a highlight speaker at this year’s Pharmacy Australia Congress (PAC11) in Melbourne.
 
The treatment and management of people with mental health conditions has assumed greater significance in Australia following the Federal Government Budget allocation of $2.2 billion over five years to improve mental health services, with a greater focus on prevention and early intervention as well as designing better integrated systems.

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A Bright Future for Australian Health and Medical Research : 27/09/2011 :

The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, announced yesterday that the 2011 Australian of the Year, Simon McKeon, pictured right, will chair an independent review of health and medical research in Australia and recommend a 10-year strategic health and medical research plan for the nation.

Mr McKeon will be joined by leading Australian researchers and prominent business leaders to carry out this review.

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Extension of Lyme Disease Appeal : 27/09/2011 :

The Karl McManus Foundation for Lyme Disease Research & Awareness has announced that it will extend its 2011 Lyme Disease Appeal.

The foundation as asking pharmacies to keep the collection tins on their counter.

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Natural medicine, Iberogast wins the support of top medicos as new clinical trial progresses : 26/09/2011 :

One of Australia’s leading gastroenterologists says he believes that the herbal remedy, Iberogast (STW 5) has its place among and is probably even superior to more expensive, mainstream treatments for certain common gastrointestinal disorders.

Professor Gerald Holtmann, Director of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Princess Alexandra Hospital, and Professor of Medicine at University of Queensland, said Iberogast - a liquid formulation of nine herbs - is now a standard treatment for gastrointestinal disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and functional dyspepsia.

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NZ conference on health of health professionals : 26/09/2011 :

An international conference on the health of the health professional is being held in New Zealand from 3-5 November 2011 at the Langham Hotel, Auckland.

The HOHP 2011 conference programme will be of interest to pharmacists as well as doctors, nurses, medical students, allied health professionals and personnel management in the healthcare sector. Topics cover a wide range of aspects of staff wellbeing, including the economic impact of ill health in the workforce, contribution of positive psychology to practitioners' wellbeing, erratic eating in shift workers, job demands, mental and physical health interventions for medical students and nurses, and physical wellness of staff as a quality indicator.

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Comprehensive ATSI health performance indicators published : 26/09/2011 :

Upcoming AIHW analyses of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) health performance framework runs to 2148-pages of comprehensive statistics, some of which indicate progress in closing the gap on health of indigenous compared with non-indigenous Australians.

The extensive data includes birth weight and life expectancy at birth, breastfeeding practices, immunisation, detailed reasons for hospitalisation, dental health, children's hearing loss, perceived health status, sexual health, access to hospital procedures and mental health services, access to prescription medicines, mortality, community functioning, housing, tobacco, alcohol & other substance exposure, literacy and numeracy, education, employment, income, single-parent families, contact with justice system, community safety, transport, diet and physical activity.

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SHPA Councillor recognised as Victorian Young Achiever : 26/09/2011 :

Last Friday, the Victorian Branch of SHPA announcd Megan Middleton, pictured right, as the William Mercer Young Achiever of 2011. This annual award is named in honour of the late William (Bill) Mercer, who made an outstanding contribution to the pharmacy profession and to SHPA. 

The award is for a pharmacist who has made a substantial contribution to hospital pharmacy in Victoria, is under 35 years of age at the time of nomination and is an SHPA member engaged in hospital pharmacy or related practice. 

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RGH E‑Bulletin: Drug-induced photosensitivity reactions : 26/09/2011 :

The topic of this week's RGH E‑Bulletin is Drug-induced photosensitivity reactions.

"Drug induced photosensitivity reactions are a relatively common side effect associated with many medications. These reactions occur via activation of a chemical by ultra-violet or visible light. Many commonly used drugs are implicated (both systemic and topical use), and include amiodarone, NSAIDs, phenothiazines, retinoids, quinolones, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and thiazides.  Most photosensitive reactions manifest as an exaggerated sunburn on areas of exposed skin; however, some phototoxic reactions may cause a vesicular rash that resembles porphyria cutanea tardea (pseudoporphyria), or other skin conditions, such as lichen planus."

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

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$2.00 a page the price point for certifying document copies : 23/09/2011 :

In light of recent discussion on AusPharmList about pharmacists' reluctance to charge for certifying document copies, this week's AusPharm poll asked 'listers what an appropriate per page fee would be.

In a good voter turnout 14% of respondents stuck with tradition and said that the service should be free and, of the rest, almost all were in the $1 to $5 range.

Our take on the result? $2 a page.

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October 2011 PBS schedule : 23/09/2011 :

The October 2011 PBS Schedule and the ‘Summary of Changes’ are now available.

Download the Full PBS schedule

Download the PBS Summary of changes.

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Guild to farewell respected Director of Health Economics : 23/09/2011 :

The Pharmacy Guild’s long serving National Director of Health Economics, Dr Michael Tatchell, pictured right,  has announced he will be retiring at the end of this year.

Dr Tatchell has been with the Guild for for almost 27 years, having joined the organisation in February 1985. He describes his time as being a time of “great change and challenge for community pharmacy in Australia”.

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