Last week's mystery object : 18/01/2010 :

The best (only!) response to last week's mystery challenge was provided by Larry Loneragan, who wins the pen we had for the best answer provided.

Click here to see what our mystery object is.

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DMAS push : 18/01/2010 :

In an attempt to ramp up activity in the Diabetes Medication Assistance Scheme (DMAS) the Pharmacy Guild has moved to address a key barrier to recruiting patients to the scheme - that GPs are not providing HbA1c information to pharmacies in a timely fashion.

The Guild has issued Request for Tender documents that aim to 'investigate the viability of alternative methods of confirming HbA1c with a view to increasing service provision capacity of community pharmacies providing the Diabetes Medication Assistance Service'.

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Union opposes Guild request for award changes : 18/01/2010 :

In a submission lodged late last week, pharmacists employee union, The Pharmacists' Division of APESMA (PDA), has told the Australian Industrial Relations Commission that it should reject in its entirety a Guild application, lodged in November, to vary the provisions of the new Pharmacy Industry Award 2010 with respect to minimum shift provisions for part time employees, the definition of 'casual' and Sunday work penalty rates.

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Does it do what it says on the label? : 18/01/2010 :

Australia urgently needs a single Code of Conduct to ensure health consumers know that medicines and other therapeutic goods they buy have been promoted ethically and deliver the claimed health benefits, the Executive Director of the Consumers Health Forum, Carol Bennett, said last week.

According to Ms Bennett, the numerous existing industry codes of conduct have created a perception that the system of review and complaint is closed and secretive and, in some cases, operates in industry's interests. Ms Bennett was speaking before a meeting this week with the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, the Hon Mark Butler, MP to discuss the need for a single code of conduct.

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Media coverage of Reductil dangers : 18/01/2010 :

'Listers may have seen media reports yesterday from News Ltd and from Ninemsn (here and here) warning that 'Weight-loss pill Reductil could be fatal'.

For those interested, the source material for these reports appears to be this document from Abbott (or its doctor equivalent).

The US FDA published an 'early communication' about this in November, here.

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e-Prescription funding will ensure safety and efficiency : 18/01/2010 :

According to e-script provider eRx Script Exchange, the announcement of funding for the provision of e-prescriptions in community pharmacy, as part of the 5th Community Pharmacy Agreement, is a vital step in ensuring that the safety and efficiency benefits of electronic prescriptions are available to all Australians.

The 'in principle' agreed Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement includes a component that allows for funding of e-prescriptions in community pharmacy through to 2015 as one of a range of e-health initiatives to support community pharmacy.

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Poll: 5th Agreement perceptions : 15/01/2010 :

This week's poll asked 'listers to tell us how they felt about the likely makeup of the 5th Community Pharmacy Agreement (with the information currently at their disposal).

The poll result suggests that people are not too happy with things as they stand, an outcome AusPharm thinks won't be of too much concern to the Guild - at this early stage of negotiations, it is a good thing for the government to be seen to be 'winning'.

The feedback AusPharm is getting from some of the bigger players in the industry is that they are content with the signals they are currently getting as to the likely outcome of the negotiations.

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CAM CE from PSA : 15/01/2010 :

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has launched a series of online modules, presentations and podcasts on complementary medicines. These modules have been prepared by the Herbal Medicines Research and Education Centre at the University of Sydney.

From today, PSA members will have access online to these modules with a new module due to be released each month, addressing a different medicine.

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A big improvement for those who have poor eyesight : 14/01/2010 :

As we age many people become short sighted and suffer from vision impairment. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimate that 13.6% of the population aged 75 years and over have a vision impairment. Webstercare has been working on a medication management solution for clients with low vision and vision impairment.

In discussions with Vision Australia, formerly the Royal Blind Society, Webstercare learned that it is easier for a person with low vision to make out white text against a black background. This has led to the development of the Webster-pak LV (Low Vision)*.

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More Fifth Agreement info released : 14/01/2010 :

The Pharmacy Guild yesterday released further information on the current state of the negotiations for the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement. While details are still lacking there is information about the shape of some of the professional programs that will be funded in 5CPA.

Amongst them is a new Pharmacy Practice Incentives (PPI) payment, which will be linked to the achievement of defined outcomes and will reward the provision of patient focussed service delivery that meets the requirements of beefed up QCPP standards. The PPI would be paid to pharmacies that meet a number of service commitments at the time of QCPP accreditation. The service commitments are the Prescription Commitment, Medication Management Services and Pharmacy Capacity Building.

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PSA: it's only the beginning : 14/01/2010 :

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has responded to yesterday's release of more 5CPA information by the Pharmacy Guild by saying that it will provide a platform for negotiations between the two peak pharmacy organisations to begin on the detailed structure of the Agreement.

President of the PSA, Warwick Plunkett, said the Society would begin negotiations with the Guild shortly and would be looking to increased professional services forming a key part of the Agreement. “It is essential that the Agreement delivers meaningful impetus and incentives for an increased number of professional services to ensure the ongoing viability of pharmacy,” Mr Plunkett said. “It is disappointing that the announcement apparently excludes a range of existing professional services aimed at reducing the burden of chronic diseases."

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Direct to consumer advertising anyone? : 13/01/2010 :

Here's a couple of examples of some US direct to consumer magazine advertising for popular men's products.

Click either image to see a larger version.

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Poll: 5th Agreement PBS dispensing remuneration : 13/01/2010 :

On Christmas Eve, the Pharmacy Guild and Health Minister Nicola Roxon jointly announced that agreement on the core components of the 5th Community Pharmacy Agreement had been reached.

Included in this was the news that the 40c per item PBS online incentive was to go, the dispensing fee was to be frozen for 2 years and that 'Over five years, the cut to predicted spending attributable to community pharmacy will total around $1 billion.'  On the other hand, the location rules will been retained and (unstated) ownership remains with pharmacists.

How do 'listers feel about all this? Please let us know by voting in today's AusPharm poll below.

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More bang for your buck : 13/01/2010 :

Pfizer Australia launched a new Viagra 100mg 12-pack on January 1, offering patients a more cost-effective treatment option.

According to Pfizer, patient insights were a key driver to the development of the larger pack size with patients revealing that a 12-pack size would be the preferred choice due to financial benefits, less visits to the GP and/or pharmacy and longer lasting supply.  The research was based on a survey of 196 patients.

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PSA Vic launches pharmacy assistant program : 12/01/2010 :

The Victorian Branch of PSA has organised a number of CPD lectures and a primary health-care weekend in August, for both pharmacists and pharmacy assistants, with the aim that the pharmacy team can learn and understand how to better work together effectively.

According to PSA, it  recognises the important roles pharmacy assistants play in the pharmacy teams and is determined to support and enhance their effectiveness.

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New CEO for Medicines Australia : 12/01/2010 :

The Board of Medicines Australia today announced its appointment of acting CEO, Dr Brendan Shaw, as the organisation’s new permanent Chief Executive.

For the past six years Dr Shaw led the Health Policy and Research function at Medicines Australia, representing the industry on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority, the Access to Medicines Working Group, and for two years was the industry member of the Economic Sub-Committee of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. He has been Acting Chief Executive for the past three months.

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Star performance theme for PAC 2010 : 12/01/2010 :

PAC 2010 will use the Seven Star Pharmacy principles as the basis of its over-arching theme of Star Performance - the future for pharmacy at the event this year.

According to the World Health Organisation the appropriate, efficient and cost-effective use of resources should be the foundation of a pharmacist’s work, regardless of which sector of the profession the pharmacist is engaged in.

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Did you ever get around to having a swine flu vaccine? : 11/01/2010 :

AusPharm did (-:

The Influenza Specialist Group (ISG) is commencing a research project to better understand the proportion of Australian Healthcare workers who have been vaccinated against swine flu, and the reasons behind this.

Healthcare workers, including pharmacists, are being asked to suggest ways that influenza vaccination programs could be improved. By completing the ISG's healthcare worker vaccination questionnaire you go in the draw to win a $250 voucher for Coles, Myer, Woolworths or Qantas.

Do the questionnaire here. (Deadline this week --> Jan 15)

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Here's another challenge : 11/01/2010 :

Once again, last week's 'What's this then' challenge created a fair bit if interest. There were plenty of responses, the best of which, in our opinion, came from Larry Loneragan, who won the AusPharm pen we had on offer for his efforts.

What about this one? What is it and what can you tell us about it's use(s)? Another pen for the 'best' response (click the pic to see a larger version).

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Physeptone still out : 11/01/2010 :

Sigma's Physeptone (methadone) tablets, unavailable to pharmacies  through normal supply channels for the last few weeks due to control issues, are expected to again become available to pharmacies in normal quantities by the end of this week.

In the meantime the The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has extended the criteria under which they can be obtained under the Special Access Scheme to include 'chronic pain that is not considered serious or life threatening' as well as 'for patients with serious or life-threatening conditions'.

Details on how to access supplies via the SAS are on the TGA website here.

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