Pandemic exacerbated risk of medication errors: WHO
World Patient Safety Day 2022 this weekend focuses on the theme of medication safety, with pharmacists playing a clear role in helping to manage polypharmacy and transitions of care The …
Profession split on COVID-19 antiviral provision
More than 1,100 readers voted on our poll, with most saying pharmacists should be able to supply COVID-19 antivirals—but with additional training or strict protocols Among the 1,107 readers who …
Complaints over refusal to supply S8s
Chemist Warehouse has been blasted online for refusing to supply S8 medicines to some people, while a leading pharmacist says refusal should be a “last resort” Hireup, Australia’s largest NDIS-registered …
Online prescribing, dispensing under scrutiny
UK pharmaceutical council mounts investigation into pharmacists working for online providers Multiple interim orders have been issued by the UK’s General Pharmaceutical Council against pharmacists working for online providers since …
Taking action on shortages
TGA and Medicines Australia respond to pharmacist survey on medicines shortages, saying changes have been made but there is scope for improvement The TGA and Medicines Australia have noted concerns …
A new combo
TGA approves first combination COVID-19 and influenza self-tests Pharmacies will now be able to stock nasal combination self-tests that detect both COVID-19 and influenza viral infections, after the TGA approved …
Deaths continue downward trend since SafeScript
More than two million red or amber alerts were triggered last year alone, as Victoria sees annual overdose deaths trending downwards for the first time in a decade Overdose deaths …
‘Unacceptable and unsustainable’: Meds shortages take toll
Pharmacists are spending significant additional hours managing medicines shortages, with some reporting up to 600 shortages in one week, a profession-wide survey has found Medicine shortages remain a “substantial problem” …
A new Fellow
Pharmacist Raymond Li has been awarded Fellow of the Australasian College of Pharmacy for his contribution to the profession Mr Li was presented with the award by college president Michelle …
Looking closer at statins
New large study finds muscle pain in over 90% of those using statins not due to treatment, with benefits of therapy continuing to outweigh risks Potential benefits of statins in …
‘We found the pharmacist’s interaction … showed up errors we were making.’
An embedded GP pharmacist led to enhanced medication safety, improved communication and better quality of life for patients, a new Australian study has found A new qualitative study has found …
Pharmacists can play ‘key role’ in reducing overdose numbers
Opioids and benzodiazepines are the most common drugs associated with unintentional drug-induced deaths in Australia, new leading report shows Overdose continues to be a leading cause of death for Australians …