Pressure mounts for lower vaccine prices
Last month, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) surprised Pfizer by refusing a donation of one million doses of the company’s pneumonia vaccine With high numbers of children who are not immunised against …
Vitamin D supplements: the case for and against
What do you know about the benefits and risks of vitamin D supplementation? Supplements and complementary medicines are a continuously contentious topic among Australian doctors, pharmacists, manufacturers and consumers. This …
Rural and metro pharmacy services should be equal: Guild
Workforce supply challenges in community pharmacy mean Aboriginal people face substantial costs for pharmacy services and restricted availability of these services A new report by the Australian Institute of Health …
Inhaler trial aims to reduce lung damage in smokers
Young smokers are being sought to take part in a product trial that may slow lung decline The GSK-funded trial, being run by The George Institute for Global Health, is …
Oral, ultra-long-acting medication on the horizon
Single administration drugs may soon deliver sustained dosages over weeks, months or potentially even years, research suggests Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in …
The week in review
Horror asthma events triggered by thunderstorms and top speakers at the Guild parliamentary dinner… This week, three Victorians died after they suffered respiratory problems in the “thunderstorm asthma” emergency, and …
Meds errors in aged care facilities: part two
Communication between the pharmacist, prescriber and aged care staff is a high-risk area for medication errors, says Webstercare’s Gerard Stevens On Tuesday AJP looked at a study by Monash University researchers recently …
Doctors should not be involved in euthanasia: AMA
Medical group maintains position that doctors should not be involved in interventions that serve to end a person’s life The Australian Medical Association today released its updated position statement on …
Community pharmacy not just a “glorified supermarket”: Shorten
Opposition leader Bill Shorten has highlighted pharmacists’ roles beyond the dispensary Speaking at the Pharmacy Guild’s Parliamentary Dinner on Tuesday night, Mr Shorten praised pharmacists for diversifying into professional services. “There …
Meds mistakes “common” in nursing homes
What can be done to reduce medication errors and inappropriate prescriptions among residents? A systematic review conducted by Monash University researchers and published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics …
‘Diabesity’ threatens 50 years of health progress
Australia is facing a resurgence of cardiovascular disease – the country’s number one killer A deadly combination of obesity and type 2 diabetes, in addition to rising rates of atrial …
Would you take up alcohol screening?
Pharmacists may be able to help reduce alcohol-related problems in the community through screening and interventions Alcohol is consumed widely in Australia and harmful levels of consumption are a major …