Guild pushes primary health role : 08/09/2009 :

The Pharmacy Guild has seized on the government's decision to establish a preventative health agency to combat obesity, smoking and lifestyle diseases to push the pharmacy case for inclusion in preventive healh programs.

The Guild issued a media release yesterday pointing out that, every day, pharmacists provide free professional support and advice on a wide range of health issues such as weight loss and smoking cessation.

“Community pharmacy has an important role to play in supporting the Government's plan to reduce preventable illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers,” said Kos Sclavos, National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.

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PharmX records strong growth : 08/09/2009 :

PharmX has announced that pharmacies can now electronically order  products from sanofi-aventis Consumer Healthcare and Western Australian pharmacy buying group SWAPS through its Internet based electronic ordering gateway.

This announcement comes as electronic ordering continues to expand among pharmacy users, with a 37% increase in the number of pharmacies using PharmX during the past 12 months, up from 2500 to more than 3400 pharmacies. More than 750,000 transactions orders and invoices are sent and received through the gateway each month.

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ASMI goes in to bat for pharmacy : 08/09/2009 :

According to the Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI) community pharmacy is well placed to take the load off overworked GPs.

New, ASMI sponsored research into the impact of minor ailments on general practitioner (GP) workload shows that the resources currently devoted to coughs, colds and other minor ailments could free-up the equivalent of 1,000 full time GPs to treat more serious health problems.

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Australians at FIP : 08/09/2009 :

A number of Australian pharmacists are enjoying the delights of PAC 2009 in Istanbul at present.

AusPharm's Bill Arnold caught up with them at one of the FIP social functions.

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Medicare Australia Bulletin Board : 07/09/2009 :

The spring edition of Medicare Australia's Bulletin Board has been published on the Medicare Australia website.

Amongst the usual array of administrative material is the news that Ms Lynelle Briggs was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer for Medicare Australia on August 13. The Spring edition also profiles MA pharmacist Trish Friend.

You can access Bulletin Board on the MA website here.

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RGH E-Bulletin: Refeeding syndrome and vitamin supplementation : 07/09/2009 :

"Patients who have been fasting for five days or more and are commenced on oral, enteral or parental feeding may experience shifts in fluids and electrolytes, resulting in hypophosphatemia, hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia and thiamine deficiency. With the introduction of carbohydrate, insulin is released into the blood stream and there is a shift from fat to carbohydrate metabolism. This creates a sudden intracellular demand for phosphate, potassium and magnesium."

Click here to read this E-Bulletin in full. The E-Bulletins are archived on the AusPharm website here.

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UK tightens up on OTC codeine too : 07/09/2009 :

Late last week UK health authorities announced a range of new measures for OTC medicines containing codeine and dihydrocodeine (DHC) to minimise the risk of overuse and addiction.

The package of measures includes the placement of clear and prominently positioned warnings on the label and patient information leaflet (PIL) about the risk of addiction and the importance of not taking these medicines for longer than three days. There will also be restrictions on pack sizes and updated controls on advertising to ensure the new warnings are clearly presented.

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Champix PI updated : 07/09/2009 :

The approved Prescribing Information for quit smoking drug Champix has been updated to include additional references to neuro-psychiatric side cutaneous side effects.

You can download an up to date copy of the PI from the medicines.org.au website here.

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PSA: threats and weaknesses in preventive care model : 07/09/2009 :

The need to expand pharmacy’s preventive health-care involvement is clear. However, while the strengths and opportunities for the community pharmacy model are not hard to see, not so obvious are some of the serious weaknesses and threats of that model. 

This issue will be addressed by Griffith University pharmacy academic Phill Woods during one of the sessions of the Professional Practice stream at the Pharmacy Australia Congress in Sydney from 15-18 October.

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2009 FIP Congress underway : 07/09/2009 :

The 2009 FIP Congress is now underway in Istanbul.

During his opening address, FIP President Dr Kamal Midha, pictured below during his speech highlighted a number of issues confronting pharmacists around the world.

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Do I look like an idiot? : 04/09/2009 :

This might be a useful counselling tool for pharmacists to use with their asthma patients. Thanks to the many 'listers who drew it to our attention.

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PBS growth subdued for July : 04/09/2009 :

Recently released PBS figures for July 2009 show subdued growth compared to July 2008.

16.6 million PBS claimable prescription valued at $642 million were dispensed in July 2009 compared to 16.5 million scripts valued at $615 million in July 2008.

This represents growth of 1% in absolute prescription numbers and 4.3% in dollar terms.

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Photo-finishing poll result : 04/09/2009 :

This week's poll asked 'listers to help us find out to what extent pharmacies still participate in photo-finishing.

Not much, according to our poll result.

Just on half the pharmacies responding don't offer a photo-finishing service at all, with another 26% offering a service through an agency (Kodak, QFL etc) but do b*gger all business through it. 7% of pharmacies have a full on minilab with another 19% equipped with a 'kiosk' to process digital images.

The bottom line? Probably  less than a quarter of pharmacies now have a profitable photo-processing business. (Click the link to see a detailed breakdown of the results).

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Half price Nicabate at Coles : 04/09/2009 :

I wonder why GSK are giving it away?Currently one in three packs of Nicabate are bought from grocery. GSK seems to be working hard to expand its non pharmacy stake.  (Click the link to see a larger version).

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Ventolin: Cash-N-Carry : 04/09/2009 :

On a more serious note, a mini pearl from Peter Allen:
 
Guys, some of us are doing it REAL BAD.
(Have a look at this study.)

"Have you had this before?"
"Yes"
Pay on your way out.
AAAARGH!

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Will Delaat elected to RUM Project Board : 03/09/2009 :

Medicines Australia Chair, Will Delaat, has been elected to the Board of the National Return and Disposal of Unwanted Medicines Limited (The RUM Project). Mr Delaat’s appointment was made at a recent Board meeting.

RUM Project Chairman, Dipak Sanghvi, said he was pleased with the appointment, listing Mr Delaat’s wide-ranging industry experience and knowledge as particularly beneficial.

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Roxon: Important Role for Pharmacists in Health Reform : 03/09/2009 :

Health Minister Nicola Roxon yesterday visited the Altona Meadows Amcal Pharmacy in Melbourne to launch ‘Ask Your Pharmacist Week’.

The Minister said that the week highlights the important role community pharmacies and pharmacists play in Australia’s health care system, including in the Government’s health reform agenda.

Ms Roxon said that the Rudd Government recognises the important position pharmacists occupy in the national health landscape, adding that pharmacists are ideally placed in the front line of health service provision to form part of a multi-disciplinary team that delivers the services and resources most relevant to the needs of the community.

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PSA: 12 member Pharmacy Board works for us : 03/09/2009 :

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has welcomed the decision by the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council to revisit its decision taken in May this year and expand the membership of the Pharmacy Board of Australia (and some other Boards) to include eight practitioner members and four community members.  

Acting President of the PSA, Grant Kardachi (pictured at right), said today that this was a key recommendation made by the PSA in its submission on the scheme.

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S100 discussion paper released : 03/09/2009 :

A review of the Section 100 supply arrangements as they affect community pharmacy is currently being conducted by Australian Healthcare Associates. The review focuses on the effectiveness and efficiency of the current supply and remuneration arrangements for community pharmacists and identifies the impacts of these arrangements. It will also develop options that address the identified issues.

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AusPharm CE: RGH E-Bulletin Digest No. 15 : 02/09/2009 :

The next in our series of online CE activities for 2009 is the RGH E-Bulletin Digest No. 15.

This CE activity assesses your understanding of four recent RGH Pharmacy E-Bulletins (Volumes 34-10 to 35-1  --> July - August 2009).

After completing this activity, pharmacists should be able to:

• Discuss clinical implications of the drug interaction between folate and phenytoin
• Describe the relevant factors to consider in relation to the use of zoledronic acid for osteoarthritis
• Understand the relevant clinical factors to consider if using glucosamine for osteoarthritis
• Describe the important adverse effects of the cholinesterase inhibitors

Click here to do this Continuing Education activity. . Or 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.

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