News
The top 10
Merger news dominates our top story list for the holiday season The ongoing developments with the Sigma/Chemist Warehouse merger held our readers interest in recent months. A look at our …
RAT plan needed to ensure access
Shortages of Covid-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) in Tasmania prompts call for supply chain plan to manage future waves Tasmanian patients are being forced to purchase expensive dual RATs or …
Suspended pharmacist found dead
Compounding pharmacist linked to the Essendon peptides scandal found dead following Ahpra suspension Victorian pharmacist, Nima Alavi, who was linked to the Essendon sports supplements scandal, has died months after …
Remorseful pharmacist banned over self-prescribing
Tribunal disqualifies Perth-based self-medicating pharmacist from seeking registration for at least 18 months The Pharmacy Board of Australia has announced that a Western Australian pharmacist who dispensed Schedule 4 medication to …
A need to be more discrete
Guidelines for pharmacists dispensing opioids may need to be more specific to aid in reducing opioid-related harms, say researchers Gaps in existing guidelines may be preventing pharmacists from fulfilling their …
Potentially hazardous sports supplements seized
TGA seizes close to 500 sports supplements containing potentially dangerous substances during raid Sports supplements containing a range of prescription and prohibited substances have been seized by authorities following a …
Wholesalers working to deliver to flood-affected Victorians
Pharmaceutical wholesalers are working with pharmacies in flood-hit parts of Victoria to get medicines to patients in need Members of the National Pharmaceutical Services Association (NPSA), which represents Community Service …
Permanent continued dispensing a must: PSA
Australia cannot wait for natural disasters to strike before implementing measures to protect patient safety, PSA leaders say Temporary measures enabling pharmacists to provide PBS medicines to patients impacted by …
Patient costs going in wrong direction: Guild
Guild calls for indexed increases to PBS co-payments to be dropped to ease cost of living pressures Annual increases to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) general and concessional co-payments are …
Primary care needs more than money
Declining bulk billing rates suggest the government needs to look at alternatives to throwing money at GPs to boost access to primary care, a Guild leader says Bulk billing incentives …
Adjustment made to scheduling changes
Confirmation of changes to the scheduling of laxative and antihistamine medicines, but with some last minute changes The Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling (ACMS) has confirmed previous preliminary changes to …
Department clarifies Take Home Naloxone fees
Pharmacy Programs Administrator to update Take Home Naloxone claiming portal by March The Department of Health and Aged Care is clarifying claims entitlements for pharmacies participating in the Take Home …