SHPA, union respond to HMR funding announcement : 25/03/2013 :

Following Friday's announcement by Health Minister Tanya Plibersek that HMR funding would not be reduced in most instances, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) says it is pleased it will be more closely involved in the HMR Hospital Referral pathway that will commence later this year.

The Minister said, as part of her announcement on Friday, “I have agreed research is needed to make sure the targeting of the HMR program is appropriate. This will happen as part of the HMR Hospital Referral pathway that will commence later this year. However, the research will not just involve the Guild and Department – both the PSA and SHPA will be actively involved, and other peak stakeholders will be consulted to ensure we get it right.”

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PBS expenditure in decline for the first time in 20 years : 25/03/2013 :

Previously unpublished PBS data shows that, for the first time in 20 years, government expenditure on the PBS is in decline. This finding was outlined in a presentation to delegates at the weekend's APP conference by the Guild’s National Director of Health Economics, Stephen Armstrong.

Figures on PBS expenditure and prescription volumes are released monthly by Medicare however that data tracks the pattern of claims processing, which is lagged and can accelerate and slow down unpredictably (as AusPharm points out when we publish these stats). This published data is volatile and bears no relationship to PBS dispensing by community pharmacies in each month, says the Guild.

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HMR and other Professional Program funding safe : 23/03/2013 :

In an announcement made at the APP conference late yesterday afternoon Guild President Kos Sclavos confirmed that agreement has been reached between the Department of Health and Ageing and the Guild to preserve existing levels of funding for Pharmacy Professional Programs, including Home Medicines reviews.

Rumours have been circulating in pharmacy circles for a fortnight that fees would be slashed following the leaking of an internal DoHA / Guild discussion document canvassing significant fee reductions.

For the details, read on. For a personal message to pharmacists from Health Minister Tanya Plibersek, take a look at today's AusPharmList Post of the day.

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Lim's Pharmacy 2013 Pharmacy of the year : 22/03/2013 :

Lim’s Pharmacy in Springvale, Victoria is the 2013 QCPP Pharmacy of the Year.  The honour was announced yesterday at the Australian Pharmacy Professional conference (APP) on the Gold Coast.

Lim’s Pharmacy is the community engagement category winner, and was judged to be the best pharmacy overall. Owner pharmacist Richard Lim accepted the award on behalf of his team.

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Pharmacists: open slather pharmacy ownership unlikely : 22/03/2013 :

More than 3/4 of pharmacists voting in this week's AusPharm poll believe that a new review of pharmacy ownership laws in Australia would not result in the complete abolition of 'pharmacist only' ownership.

In November last year Productivity Commission Chair, Gary Banks, flagged that a second National Competition Policy Review of pharmacy ownership remains on the Commission's 'to do' list. 

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State of the Industry Symposium kicks off APP : 22/03/2013 :

As has become a tradition at the annual APP conference, proceedings got underway yesterday with the State of the Industry symposium. Key players from the main Australian pharmacy stakeholder groups gave their take on what lay ahead for community pharmacy in 2013 and beyond.

First to speak was IMS Australia General Manager Andy Jackson who gave a broad overview of the global and local pharmaceutical markets. He reported that global market growth in 2012 stood at just 2% but that OTC growth in pharmacy for the same period was 12%.

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NPS launches new consumer generics campaign : 22/03/2013 :

NPS MedicineWise has launched a new consumer campaign, featuring digital animation and print media, which dramatises the fact that it’s active ingredients that make a medicine work, and that two brands of the same medicine with the same active ingredient are an equal choice.

Print advertisements will run for the next few weeks in Sunday press and on mydr.com.au, as well as on the radio on the Fairfax and Macquarie networks. 

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AusPharm CPD: RGH Pharmacy E-Bulletin Digest No 57 : 21/03/2013 :

The next in our 2013 series of continuing professional development activities is the RGH E-Bulletin Digest No. 57.

This CPD activity assesses your understanding of four recent RGH Pharmacy E-Bulletins (Volumes 49-3 - 49-6  --> January- February 2012).

After completing this activity, pharmacists should be able to:

• Discuss the important issues to consider with respect to drug therapy during electroconvulsive therapy
• Describe key findings from recent research into the use of apixaban to prevent VTE in people with AF
• Outline findings of recent research into the use of strontium as a treatment for osteoporosis in men
• Discuss the clinical pharmacology of serelaxin.

This activity has been accredited for 1 group 2 CPD credits suitable for inclusion in an individual pharmacist’s CPD plan. Accreditation number: A1304AP0.

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

AusPharm gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by MIMS.

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PSA issues pharmacy immunisation guidelines : 21/03/2013 :

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has released guidelines for providing immunisation services with a view to promoting best practice and the delivery of high-quality immunisation services in pharmacies.

National President of PSA, Grant Kardachi, said the PSA’s Practice guidelines for the provision of immunisation services within pharmacy provided guidance to pharmacists on professional issues and obligations related to immunisation services within the pharmacy setting.

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Senate inquiry into the supply of chemotherapy drugs: SHPA highlights concerns : 21/03/2013 :

Yesterday (20 March) was the deadline for public submissions to be lodged for the Senate inquiry into the supply of chemotherapy drugs.

The inquiry was established after concerns were raised by patients, community pharmacies and public and private hospitals following the 1 December 2012 price disclosure related cuts to the price paid to pharmacies for supplying some cytotoxic drugs, principally docetaxel. Changes to the funding of paclitaxel from 1 April will remove a further $10 million (annual) from chemotherapy services in private hospitals.

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'Save HMRs' petition a hit : 21/03/2013 :

The 'Save HMRs' petition launched by Dr Peter Tenni on Tuesday afternoon has, as of 6AM this morning, been signed by over 1500 people.

The petition calls on Health Minister Tanya Plibersek to reject proposals contained in a leaked Guild / DoHA document to significantly reduce funding for HMRs and some other pharmacy professional programs.

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Poll: will pharmacy ownership go open? : 20/03/2013 :

In November last year Productivity Commission Chair, Gary Banks, flagged that a second National Competition Policy Review of pharmacy ownership remains on the Commission's 'to do' list.

Mr Banks listed pharmacy ownership as one area among many where a 'second, more focused' review would serve a purpose saying [competition policy driven reform] "progress has stalled or even reversed in some policy areas".

What do you think the outcome of such a review might be? Please let us know by voting in this week's AusPharm poll.

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Petition launched to 'save' HMRs : 20/03/2013 :

An online petition has been launched to lobby Health Minister Tanya Plibersek to reject proposals to reduce pharmacist remuneration for both Home (HMR) and Aged Care (RMMR) Medication Reviews.

The petition was established by accredited pharmacist Dr Peter Tenni. Dr Tenni is also behind recent moves to canvas the viability of a new pharmacist organisation to represent the specific needs of accredited pharmacists.

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April 2013 PBS schedule : 19/03/2013 :

Download the Full PBS schedule

Download the PBS Summary of changes

Download the Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy – S100 Arrangements Supplement

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Health Minister defends PBS model : 19/03/2013 :

Responding to claims made in the Grattan Institute's new report, Australia’s bad drug deal: high pharmaceutical prices, that the government is spending up to $1.3 billion a year too much for PBS listed drugs, Health Minster Tanya Plibersek yesterday defended the government's handling of the PBS pricing process, specifically highlighting the success of price disclosure in containing PBS costs.

Speaking on ABC radio's AM program yesterday Ms Plibersek said "On the pricing of generic drugs, I'd say that price disclosure has meant that 1400 brands of 137 medicines are up to 87 per cent cheaper over the last four years. And in fact another 60 drugs will go down in price on the 1st of April."

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CSU students get virtual pharmacies : 18/03/2013 :

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has installed ‘virtual pharmacies’ on its campuses in Orange and Wagga Wagga, allowing students to role play real-world scenarios they are likely to encounter during their practical work placements in the community.

Head of CSU's School of Biomedical Sciences, Associate Professor Lyn Angel, said the new facilities reflected the University’s focus on producing job-ready graduates who were highly valued by industry.

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John Bronger on HMRs : 18/03/2013 :

In tomorrow's AusPharm(e)news, former Guild President John Bronger, will give his take on the recent HMR imbroglio.

John joins Bruce Annabel and Guild CEO David Quilty as additions to the AusPharm writing team this year. Tomorrow's piece is the first of what will be regular contributions from him.

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Third pharmacy group launches an iPhone app : 18/03/2013 :

Pharmore Pharmacies have released an iPhone app aimed at providing its customers with health information, product offers and store information.

Pharmore joins the Chemist Warehouse and PharmaSave groups in offering iPhone apps as part of their marketing strategies.

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RGH E‑Bulletin: Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) as a complementary medicine : 18/03/2013 :

The topic of this week's RGH E‑Bulletin is Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) as a complementary medicine.

"Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a naturally occurring compound found in plants (field horsetail, certain species of algae, fruits, vegetables, and grains), and in bovine and human adrenal glands, milk and urine. It is an odourless metabolite of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). MSM is known by various names including crystalline DMSO, dimethylsulfone or DMSO2. This product is promoted as a natural source of sulphur, which has many structural and functional roles in the body. A marketing strategy states that sulphur is required for the formation and maintenance of healthy connective tissue found in cartilage, tendons, ligaments, skin, hair and nails and is a component of the antioxidant compounds N-acetylcysteine and glutathione - thus implying that MSM is also required for these. There is no recommended daily allowance for sulphur and sulphur deficiency is not described in the medical literature."

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

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Registrations now open for Pharmacy College's 2013 Conference : 18/03/2013 :

On-line registrations for the Australian College of Pharmacy's 2013 Conference in Brisbane in July are now open.

According to organisers, the 24th Annual conference promises content that is new, innovative, practical and relevant to everyday pharmacy practice.

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