News
Boost for medicines use
Health minister announces a funding boost for quality use of medicines education programs The federal government says that “Australians will benefit from better medicine use thanks to nearly $26 million …
Glucagon shortage extended
Emergency diabetes treatment shortage to continue for another month Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals warns a critical shortage of its GlucaGen HypoKit (glucagon) will continue until 31 October. The company had initially …
No default to 60-day scripts
Prescribing software provides doctors with options to prescribe eligible medications on a 30- or 60-day script, bureaucrats say Concerns that GPs’ prescribing software platforms automatically prompt doctors to issue 60-day …
Forecasting the future
Prescribing, modernising eHealth, protecting supply chains and regulating artificial intelligence key concerns of pharmacy sector The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) has released the third edition of its …
Doctors push for end to pharmacy UTI treatment
Surge in hospital presentations for urinary tract infections (UTIs) prompts call for Queensland to scrap its pharmacist-initiated treatment program Data showing a significant increase in the number of patients presenting …
‘We cannot wait until March’
Pharmacists are set to take to the streets once more with activists planning a second protest in Sydney in response to the government’s 60-day dispensing policy Representatives of the Community …
Benefits outweigh 60-day wastage fears
Department of Health officials play down pharmacists’ concerns that 60-day dispensing will fuel an increase in medicine wastage Medicines wastage as a result of the government’s decision to increase maximum …
World news wrapup: 28 September 2023
Patients may need to visit their pharmacy every day to access antibiotics; Shadow pharmacy minister wants the profession to do more; Nova Scotia to fast-track visas to boost pharmacy workforce …
Pollies back pharmacist UTI care
South Australian health minister, Chris Picton, is being urged to implement a pharmacist-initiated urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment program “as soon as practicable” Recommendations from the South Australian Parliament’s Select …
Suboxone theft unlikely to be a once off
Closure of methadone service linked to pharmacy raid A pharmacy owner fears a desperate patient’s decision to walk into the dispensary to grab Suboxone will be the beginning of a …
Pharmacies to boost access to the pill
Phase two of the NSW pharmacy prescribing trial is now underway, delivering improved access to the oral contraceptive pill Women aged 18 to 35 years who have had a prescription …
AHPRA an option for concerns about 60-day scripts
Pharmacists urged to discuss queries about the safety and suitability of 60-day prescriptions with the prescriber, before contacting AHPRA Pharmacists with concerns about a prescriber’s clinical practice regarding 60-day prescriptions …