Pharma industry payments hit target
Evidence shows a convincing association between sponsored meals and increased brand-name prescribing Two US studies have found a strong link between industry sponsored meals for doctors and an increase in …
Pharmacists can “shine” in general practice, says GP
Queensland GP Dr Justin Coleman has created a video to highlight the value of non-dispensing pharmacists in Australia In his video, Dr Coleman explains the useful skills and knowledge that non-dispensing pharmacists provide …
“Contemptible, outrageous and unethical” doctor’s 3-year ban
Sydney GP prescribed oxycodone and diazepam at potentially fatal amounts to a single patient over years Dr Ghee Hong Michael Tan, 59, has been found guilty of professional misconduct for prescribing a patient excessive …
Heinz taken to court over toddler foods
Products that claim to be healthy contain over 60% sugar, alleges the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission The ACCC has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court against the Australian arm …
Antibiotic use in kids too long
Australian experts find use in children can be stopped sooner Top researchers from the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute have conducted a systematic review into the duration of intravenous antibiotics for …
Prosecutors drop drug trafficking charges against FedEx
Criminal trial nearly two years in the making ended just five days after it began The trial alleging FedEx knowingly delivered illegal prescriptions drugs to dealers and addicts ended abruptly when …
PM scraps Medicare outsourcing plans
Pressure from Labor has forced the Coalition to abandon plans to outsource payment system Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has bowed to pressure from the Labor Party, announcing the government has …
Pharmacists can help lower heart risk
With a more advanced scope of practice, pharmacists can achieve positive results for patients A Canadian trial has shown intensive pharmacist intervention may help reduce cardiovascular risk in patients. Community pharmacists …
Medication can help in fight against obesity
Systematic review and meta-analysis involving 30,000 patients reveals success of weight loss agents The review published in JAMA looked at five medications approved for management of obesity in the US: orlistat, …
Guild hits back at Grattan Institute report
Analysis doesn’t acknowledge impact of PBS savings measures in recent years, they say The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has disagreed with new claims that Australia is continuing to pay too …
Antibiotic business model needs overhaul
Current model leads to antibiotic overconsumption and provides insufficient rewards to drive innovation, say top researchers Academics from the Boston University School of Law and London School of Economics, among …
Viagra and melanoma: a lifestyle issue?
Increased risk of malignant melanoma link to ED drugs likely due to greater sun exposure, researchers say A newly published study of nearly 150,000 men prescribed sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil has found …