Longer Read
Conscientious objection in pharmacy
Should pharmacists be mandated to supply medicines such as emergency contraceptives despite their personal beliefs? CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION: The case for, by Leo Hamulczyk It is often assumed that conservative people, …
The state of pay
A new report has laid bare the anger and frustration that many pharmacists are feeling about their pay and conditions. How can the profession respond? In March 2021, the union …
Keeping to the script
One year on from the launch of electronic prescriptions in Australia where are we at now? And what are the next steps? Was it only a year ago that Australia’s …
Getting to the guts of your health
With mounting evidence supporting the influence of the gut microbiome, more people want to know how they can improve their gut health Knowledge about the human gut microbiome has increased …
Pharmacy students undertake ‘hands-on’ role
How have students been involved in Australia’s high-stakes vaccination rollout? Alex Vo is 21. He’s a Monash pharmacy student in his fourth year – and, suddenly, also a key foot-soldier …
Pain management and opioid misuse
Despite regulatory changes to codeine, pharmacists continue to play a vital role in the safe and appropriate use of analgesics As our knowledge of pain has progressed, we now recognise …
What is Novavax, Australia’s third COVID vaccine option? And when will we get it?
Jamie Triccas, University of Sydney, looks at the third vaccine for which Australia has a deal As AstraZeneca is no longer the preferred vaccine for Australian adults under 50, attention …
Blood clot risks: comparing the AstraZeneca vaccine and the contraceptive pill
Adam Taylor from Lancaster University takes a look at the clotting risk associated with AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine By the end of March, 79 cases of rare blood clots had been …
Determined to make a difference
Pharmacist Veronica Nou has faced significant challenges both inside and outside pharmacy, but keeps her eyes fixed on those in need A recognisable face in both community pharmacy and refugee …
What is thrombocytopenia, the rare blood condition possibly linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine?
Anthony Zulli, Maja Husaric, Maximilian de Courten, and Vasso Apostolopoulos, from Victoria University, take a look at the concerns over the AZ vaccine The federal government has asked Australia’s medical …
A balancing act between benefits and risks
Making sense of the latest vaccine news, by Hassan Vally Associate Professor, La Trobe University Hassan Vally, La Trobe University Last night, the federal government announced substantially revised plans for …
Addressing corticosteroid phobia
It’s time to address some of the myths around corticosteroids. What’s the latest advice regarding the risks and appropriate use? It is common for topical corticosteroids to be prescribed to …