Supply ‘constrained’ but improving
Substitution instrument extended for abatacept, while others end The Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument (SSSI) for abatacept (Orencia), originally set to expire on 30 April, has been extended until 30 June. …
Asthma reliever concern remains
An updated version of the Australian Asthma Handbook has been released, with information on new medicines The National Asthma Council Australia today launched the Australian Asthma Handbook V2.2 which includes …
New services and impact on workload
Pharmacy owners need to keep a close eye on whether the number of staff dispensing is in line with workload guidelines, says one authority In its latest circular, the Victorian …
Weight-loss run on diabetes drug
‘Online’ GPs’ off-label prescribing of medication for weight loss key to shortage, says Twomey Diabetes patients are experiencing difficulties accessing supplies of type-2 diabetes treatment Ozempic because “entrepreneurial GPs” are …
Research Roundup
Debbie Rigby rounds up the latest in research news Common conditions that mimic asthma Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in Australia, affecting 11% of the population. …
An ‘unreasonable’ pursuit: Tribunal
Pharmacist to pay costs to Pharmacy Board following dispute over registration A dispute over registration requirements has ended in a pharmacist paying costs to the Pharmacy Board of Australia, although …
Pharmacists on alert over forged S8 scripts
Health ministry shares common signs of forged S8 scripts after warning of increasing numbers of forgeries being dispensed The NSW Ministry of Health is reminding pharmacists to “carefully scrutinise” the …
Moderna vaccine sales treble in first quarter
COVID-19 mRNA vaccine sends income and profits through the roof Vaccine sales for US biotech company Moderna were three times what they were for the same period last year, according …
‘Bizarre’ claims ‘yet another example of why the AMAQ can’t be trusted’: Guild
Doctors say their “only option” has been to report pharmacists involved with the Queensland UTI trial to the state’s Health Ombudsman, AMA head reveals The Pharmacy Guild has denied claims …
Pharmacists step in to help 80k kids
For the first time in NSW, pharmacists are now able to offer vaccines to adolescents who have missed out on their school vaccinations NSW has introduced new regulations—taking effect from …
The week in review
Good news for those paying the maximum PBS co-payment this week, plus a lot of research news With the election looming, politics were naturally on the agenda this week, with …
Fighting off a double epidemic
Change continues in the pharmacy vaccination space, with a “winter booster” for COVID and a wider pharmacy presence in flu vax announced. So what else is in store for this …