PBS supply of antimicrobials 20% lower in a decade
But inappropriate prescribing in hospitals post procedure remains high Supply of antimicrobials is slowly creeping up since 2022, but it remains below the volume dispensed in 2015, according to the …
‘A necessary step’
First PBAC recommendation for Covid vaccine addition to NIP The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) has recommended that the Covid-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, be listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) …
No ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach
Q&A: We speak with senior pharmacist and researcher Hana Amer about her recent scoping study on collaborative prescribing, the different models and benefits for patients Adelaide University PhD candidate and …
Political spending revealed
Pharmacy Guild ups donations by $200k in election lead-up compared to previous year The Pharmacy Guild of Australia made $600,170 in political donations across the board in the 2024-25 financial …
Levelling up your services for kids
Children require distinct, tailored healthcare all year round. The Australian Capital Territory’s Community Pharmacist of the Year explains how to develop child-friendly professional services Key points Children’s health conditions often …
Bisoprolol ‘safe’ in COPD patients: study
RCT results show the cardio-selective beta-blocker is no longer contraindicated in this patient population, says lead Bisoprolol can be safely used in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according …
‘Missed opportunities’: Alerts ignored in leadup to woman’s death
Pharmacists expressed concerns over gabapentin scripts, but SafeScript red alerts were not properly checked by dispensers or prescribers, coroner finds Multiple pharmacies contacted a GP with concerns about a Victorian …
What this study tells us about collaborative pharmacist prescribing
Across 15 different Australian models, the majority allowed pharmacists to initiate preadmission and new medicines… but most placed some limits on prescribing A new study by UniSA pharmacists has looked …
Ouchy: Book review
Ouchy is the perfect introduction to first aid for preschool and primary school aged children, written by a leading pharmacist Written by pharmacist, documentarian and author Angelo Pricolo, this charming …
Death ‘less likely’ had patient not accessed two takeaway doses: coroner
Chief pharmacist questions prescribing doctor following patient’s overdose death Tasmania’s chief pharmacist has questioned a GP’s concurrent prescribing of oral methadone liquid and diazepam after a woman died from mixed …
‘We cannot be complacent’
Two US studies have found worrying trends in pharmacists’ mental health, as leading advocate highlights current disaster situations, burnout risks in Australian profession Among 202 community pharmacists surveyed in the …
A boost to coverage
Shingrix addition to NIP boosted uptake by 40%, finds leading research centre Shingles vaccination coverage increased by 40% among adults aged ≥65 years in the first 12 months after Shingrix …