AusPharm CE: Psychosis and antipsychotics: selected clinical issues : 26/03/2009 :

Yesterday we be published the latest of our Continuing Education activities, Psychosis and antipsychotics: selected clinical issues.

It's been put together for us by Chris Alderman and Anita Marwood, two pharmacists from the Repatriation General Hospital in Adelaide who specialise in psychiatric pharmacy.

It's a crackerjack of an activity - you won't want to miss it.

This activity is based on a critical area of contemporary therapeutics, addressing the important issue of a serious mental illness and the treatments that can be used for the management of these conditions.

This activity has been accredited by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia as a Group 2 activity for 1.5 points. Accreditation number: CX090022g.

AusPharm gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the sponsors of our CE program, MIMS.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Industry seeks to attract clinical research investment : 26/03/2009 :

Medicines Australia chairman Will Delaat, pictured at right, yesterday outlined a three-point plan to attract substantial international investment in clinical research for Australia.

Speaking at the fourth annual R&D Taskforce Forum in Sydney, Mr Delaat said Australia was well placed to win clinical research investment from regional competitors such as India and China.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Have you got your PHARMeFOOTY tips in? : 26/03/2009 :

Footy fans will be only too aware that the AFL season begins at the MCG tonight with the sell out clash between the Carlton Blues and the Richmond Tigers.

It's not too late to register for PHARMeFOOTY if you haven't already done so. Click here to visit the PHARMeFOOTY website to register now or to lodge your tips for this week's first AFL round.

eRx Sxcript Exchange March Newsletter : 26/03/2009 :

The first of what will be regular monthly eRx Script Exchange newsletters was published yesterday on the eRx Script Exchange  website.

The eRx website is here and the March newsletter is here.

Poll: should pharmacies sell homeopathic products? : 25/03/2009 :

Once again, there is discussion on AusPharmList on whether or not pharmacies should stock homeopathic products.

Some say that having such products on the shelf lends them unwarranted legitimacy with others saying that lack of evidence of efficacy is not the same as evidence of lack of efficacy (if you get what I mean) and that just maybe some of these products do more than evoke the placebo response. Still others say 'who are we to stop people using a harmless product' and, anyway, I'm there to offer advice on alternatives if need be.

What do you think? Please let us know by voting in today's online poll at left.

Mirixa Australia presentation now online : 25/03/2009 :

Back in February, while the Mirixa Australia roadshow was touring the country one or two 'listers observed that '...One visit to a state's capital city does not a roadshow make.'

Well, it seems that someone was listening - the Mirixa Australia roadshow presentation is now online on the Guild website.

Click here to have a look.

Support for eRx Script Exchange growing : 25/03/2009 :

eRx Script Exchange is gathering support amongst pharmacists with Corum Health Services yesterday endorsing the eRx electronic prescribing model.

Corum Managing Director, Mark Winnett, said “Our organisation has reviewed a number of options for the provision of this service to the industry. The Pharmacy Guild’s support of the eRx platform provides a degree of certainty that the interest of pharmacists and other industry stakeholders will be protected”.

Corum Health Services provides point-of-sale, dispensing and business operations software to more than 2,300 Australian pharmacies. Brands include Corum, Amfac and Pharmasol.

Tasmanian Board 100th birthday celebrations : 24/03/2009 :

'Listers will recall our brief item last week reporting that the Pharmacy Board of Tasmania has just celebrated its 100th birthday. A reception was held at Government House in Hobart last Thursday night to commemorate the occasion.

PDL Director for Tasmania, Robert Scanlon, has kindly sent along some photos of the event. PDL contributed significantly to the cost of the event.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

US pharmacists struggle for recognition : 24/03/2009 :

'Listers will recall coverage of pharmacy's lack of mention in the recently released interim report of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.  At the time Guild President Kos Sclavos said "There was hope that this review would facilitate an expanded scope of practice for pharmacists, but the word pharmacist was only mentioned seven times in a 386 page report."

Recent comments by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) suggest that our US colleagues are having similar difficulties getting their skills recognised.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Warfarin services pilot study: rural and remote pharmacies needed : 24/03/2009 :

The University of Tasmania’s School of Pharmacy is looking for expressions of interest to participate in a pilot study aimed to improve the anticoagulation services offered by rural and remote pharmacies.

The project will provide three pharmacies with access to training and resources to provide improved anticoagulation services to their community. 

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

RGH E-Bulletin: Denosumab : 24/03/2009 :

"There are currently several effective agents available to treat osteoporosis and for the prevention of fractures. Calcium and vitamin D play an important role for fracture prevention and bisphosphonates are the most commonly used antiresorptive agents. Partial oestrogen agonists such as raloxifene have a more limited role in the treatment of osteoporosis. Denosumab is a novel therapy under investigation for the treatment of osteoporosis in post menopausal women."

Click here to read the bulletin in full.

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

First Physical Activity Recommendations for Older Australians : 24/03/2009 :

The federal government yesterday released physical activity recommendations specifically for older Australians.

Under the new recommendations, older Australians are urged to accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, as a slight increase in activity can make a difference to a person’s overall health and wellbeing. The new recommendations apply to older people across all levels of health and ability, be they living at home or in an aged care home.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

2008/09 Sigma results : 24/03/2009 :

Sigma Pharmaceuticals announced its financial results at a presentation in Melbourne yesterday morning. As widely reported in the mainstream media (here  ) it reported modest growth in net profit for financial year 2008/09 but declined to issue guidance for financial year 2009/10.

Sigma CEO Elmo de Alwis said, “Due to the continuing uncertain environment, the Company is not providing detailed guidance at this time, however we expect to deliver modest growth for the 2009/10 financial year. We will update on our year to date performance at our AGM on 12 May 2009.”

During his presentation Mr de Alwis flagged the company's intention to roll out a 'compliant retail model' during this year.

AusPharm CE: the management of asthma : 23/03/2009 :

Need to catch up on some CE over the summer break?

Well, here's another one of our most popular CE activities, The management of asthma . It's authored by Bonnie Bereznicki, from the School of Pharmacy, University of Tasmania, and was first published in March 2009.

"Asthma is a National Health Priority Area in Australia, and is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in the community. The focus of this article is to review the evidence for the strategies used to optimally manage asthma and prevent exacerbations."

Click here to do this Continuing Education activity.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Poll: my pharmacy (department) has an APF20 on hand : 23/03/2009 :

It seems that most pharmacies (n=80 in our poll) do have the most recent APF on hand  (not counting the new one).

However, last week's poll told us that only 18% of those pharmacists who voted in that poll use it 'often' or 'all the time'.

The challenge for the publishers, given that people do actually have a copy on hand, is to make it more relevant to day to day pharmacy practice. Which is pretty much what they say they've done with the new APF21!

Poll result: how much do you use the APF? : 20/03/2009 :

In light of the recent publication of the new, 21st, edition of the APF, this week's poll asked 'listers how often they used the APF in the their work as a pharmacist. The result (n=194), shown below, suggests that it is not the most used reference in your average pharmacy (department). Click the image below to see a larger version of the graph.As a follow up poll (we'll run the result on Monday) AusPharm wonders how many pharmacies actually have an APF (20th edition) on the shelf? Please let us know by voting in today's poll below.

eRx to have competition on electronic scripts : 20/03/2009 :

MediSecure yesterday announced the release of the MediSecure e-prescription solution, a product in direct competition with eRx Script Exchange. According to MediSecure a pilot is set to commence in April 2009 with commercial trading due in July 2009. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has lent its support to MediSecure.

Like eRx, MediSecure will be open to all pharmacy and medical practice software vendors. According to MediSecure, pharmacists will pay per script processed but there will be no cost to doctors.

Guild President Kos Sclavos told AusPharm that there had already been initiatives regarding electronic prescriptions in the Australian market and eRx is not the first. 

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Former API exec dumps on pharmacy 'junkets' : 19/03/2009 :

Former API executive, Simon Burrow, had a bit to say about offshore pharmacy 'educational' trips in an article published on Crikey health blog 'Croakey' on Wednesday.

"This is how it works: Annually, or more often bi-annually, an exotic venue is chosen by the [wholesaler's] senior management team. Suppliers are strong-armed into contributing 'sponsorshjips' to finance the venture. The strategy is always to make a profit and bolster the half-year numbers. Conferences are often organized at a late notice to do just that."

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

April 1 PBS price rises : 19/03/2009 :

There are quite a lot of PBS price rises scheduled for April 1. Guild members can access a list of affected products on the Guild website here.

There are substantial savings to be had for those pharmacies able to 'stock up'. Products set to rise in price include Zoloft, Timoptol, Zocor, Xalatan and Pariet - there are many more.

The full PBS schedule and the 'Summary of Changes' for 1 April 2009 are now available on the AusPharmacist.net.au web site. 

Influenza prevention focus of new pharmacy competition : 19/03/2009 :

To ensure Australian pharmacies are doing their bit to cut the cost of influenza, the Pharmacy Guild, in conjunction with Gold Cross Products and Services, is running an infection control competition for pharmacy assistants this ‘flu season.

Participating pharmacy assistants must develop an infection control concept, such as an in-store display or health promotion activity, to help inform community pharmacy customers about infection control.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Click here to go to the old "Industry News" page (pre 01/09/2006).