Deprescribing: barriers and enablers
Community pharmacists can play a strong role in identifying patients who would benefit from a review of their medicines with a view to deprescribing, says one expert. Kristen Anderson from …
Opioids have minimal benefit in low back pain
New research from The George Institute for Global Health and the University of Sydney has found that opioid painkillers, commonly used in low back pain, provide minimal benefit. The findings …
Barriers to e-cigarettes in smoking cessation
Australia needs to reconsider the ways it manages reducing smoking rates, including allowing some e-cigarettes to be sold legally, says an expert on substance abuse – but another expert has …
AUST L requirements encourage ‘shonky products’
Monash University’s Dr Ken Harvey has highlighted issues around the AUST L listing on complementary medicines, which consumers do not understand well, he says, as well as the process for …
Tobacco price rise helps, not harms, the poor
Instead of a regressive policy which targets the poor, the ongoing rise in tobacco excise benefits the poor more than it does the rich, say experts. Public health physician Dr …
Huge gaps in understanding paracetamol harm: study
A study of adults who had recently purchased children’s paracetamol has indicated that many people don’t know basic information about the commonly used medicine. Presented at last week’s National Medicines …
PBS copay, safety net rise to persist if Coalition returned: Ley
The increased PBS copayment and Safety Net amounts remain Coalition policy and will be revisited should the Turnbull Government be returned, Health Minister Sussan Ley says. The Prime Minister yesterday …
Guild, PSA welcome Labor PBS plan
Pharmacy stakeholders have welcomed Labor’s announcement that if elected, it will scrap the Turnbull Liberal Government’s cuts to the PBS. Labor says this will ensure that there will be no …
Megatrends in health care as economy shifts
Disruption from sources like automation, digital interconnectivity and the peer economy are set to shake up the health sector as they are other sectors, says Dr Stefan Hajkowicz, Senior Principal …
Antibiotic prescribing set to improve thanks to guide
A Tasmanian initiative to provide a Quick Reference Guide to antibiotic prescribing in the community has been embraced by GPs and is set to improve prescribing, delegates at the National …
UK information expert keynote speaker at Pharmacy Connect
UK based pharmacist and director of MD Healthcare Mark Duman has been announced as the keynote speaker at Pharmacy Connect to be held from 9- 11 September in Sydney. Mark …
Medicines shortages have huge impact: study
Medicines shortages in community pharmacy are having a huge impact on pharmacists and patients, potentially driving patients to seek their medicine overseas, according to a new study presented as a …