News
Cold tablet double (or even triple) recording?
With the rollout of OTC codeine recording app MedsASSIST, cold tablets containing codeine and pseudoephedrine may now need to be entered into at least two discreet databases – three if …
Ramadan with diabetes: pharmacists need training
Pharmacists need more resources on how to help patients whose cultural and religious practices may impact on chronic illness, a new study looking at patients with diabetes who fast during …
Cardiac rehabilitation programs needed
Greater uptake of life-saving cardiac rehabilitation programs for heart attack survivors could reduce costs to the national health system by $35.5 million and stop 2,100 heart attacks across the country …
New therapies for hep C listed
New therapies have been PBS listed for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus. AbbVie Australia today announced that Viekira Pak (ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir tablets; dasabuvir tablets) and …
New chemo listing in indolent Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
A cancer medicine that doubles progression free survival in people with indolent Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and is less toxic than previous chemotherapy regimens will be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme …
Vaccine refusal stays largely unchanged
Research published today in the Medical Journal of Australia has found that the overall level of vaccination objection (registered and unregistered) has remained largely unchanged since 2001. Dr Frank Beard and …
One in five think anxiety is ‘putting it on’
New figures have revealed one in five Australians believe people experiencing anxiety ‘put it on’ to avoid difficult or uncomfortable situations and around half of Australians don’t know basic facts …
Boots fallout sees ‘unprecedented slew’ of mail
The Guardian has received what its letters editor suspects may be the “largest haul of mail” ever received about a single article, following reports last week that Boots management was …
When social turns unsociable
Woolworths’ social media post called “creepy” The perils of unmonitored social media use by staff have been highlighted by a fiasco involving supermarket giant Woolworths. The company is beign accused …
Antibiotic emergency
Drug company greed causing antibiotic resistance plague, pharmacy editor claims. The pharmaceutical industry is playing a substantial role in driving the growth of antimicrobial resistance by a lack of funding …
Eltroxin – your questions answered (sort of)
A new brand of thyroxine (Eltroxin) was recently released in Australia. It comes in 456 11 strengths, is not PBS listed and is not bioequivalent with other PBS listed thyroxine …
Sugar tax: a health sweetener
A 20% TAX ON SOFT DRINKS WOULD RESULT IN WIDESPREAD, LONG-LASTING PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS AND SIGNIFICANT HEALTH COST SAVINGS, A NEW STUDY SHOWS. University of Queensland School of Public Health researcher Dr …