Another box ticked for Sigma merger
Sigma gets Federal Court approval for Chemist Warehouse acquisition The Federal Court of Australia issued orders this morning (Monday 3 February 2025) approving Sigma Healthcare’s acquisition of 100% of the …
Taking control: are you a have or a have-not?
While many of the biggest issues that could affect the sector in 2025 are outside pharmacists’ direct control, how they react and prepare for these, and for factors they can …
The week in review
Takeovers dominated the last seven days in pharmacy, with one merger edging closer to completion plans for another were unveiled Shareholders of wholesaler Sigma Healthcare and Chemist Warehouse gave their …
Legal error found, but suspension upheld in Supreme Court
A pharmacy proprietor appealed her Section 150 suspension over a legal point, denying allegations of PBS fraud and “kickbacks” A pharmacist has taken an appeal of a NSW Civil and …
What costs the most?
New data reveals the most expensive PBS medicines during the previous financial year There were 226.5 million subsidised prescriptions dispensed in the 2023/24 financial year, recently released data shows. The …
RSV protection under NIP
With the new RSV vaccine for pregnant women about to become available, PDL has some advice for pharmacists providing vaccination services From 3 February 2025, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) …
Pharmacists dispense high-risk drugs from unlicensed premises
A pharmacy was found to be in an “untidy, cluttered and unhygienic state” and its owner told to stop conducting pharmacy business there… but he continued to do so The …
More to do to prevent paracetamol-related harm
Paracetamol scheduling changes welcomed, but more needs to be done to reduce the risk of overdose and poisoning, PSA says Scheduling changes to paracetamol, which come into effect on Saturday …
An opportunity to reform programs
Health minister says the government wants a larger primary care role for pharmacists, as consultation for pharmacy programs agreement readies to commence Mark Butler said in a statement on Friday …
Increase pharmacists in children’s wards: PSA
Medicine-related problems linked to 93 children presenting at emergency departments across Australia each day, report reveals Paediatric wards across Australia need greater access to pharmacists to improve medicines safety for …
Flashback Friday: ‘Gestapo methods in our midst’
“No agreement with the Federal Government as a contracting party is worth the paper on which it is written,” thundered an AJP correspondent in 1945, as shots were fired within …
‘Unintended’ death from prescription meds: coroner
A woman died after being put on a cross-titration process involving multiple antidepressants and benzodiazepines, but her GP claims he wasn’t informed The 47-year-old woman from Victoria was admitted to …