COVID-19
Skyrocketing RAT price scrutiny
Nearly half the reports made to the ACCC about rapid antigen test “potential scams” are about pharmacies The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says it has “significant concerns” about the …
‘This is not on:’ RATs redirected?
The Federal Government has denied that it is redirecting rapid antigen tests ordered by pharmacies to itself, as stores struggle with supply Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain has shared an …
‘Huge demand’ for child vax
COVID-19 vaccination program for children aged 5-11 launches in pharmacies, with community pharmacists’ kids first in line… but some are yet to receive their stock Children aged 5-11 are now …
Up to $15k for expanding vax services
The Pharmacy Guild has welcomed a Victorian initiative providing grants to pharmacies expanding their COVID-19 vaccination services The Victorian Government is scaling up its vaccination booster program, including pop-up sites, …
Pharmacists beg for COVID safety moves
Australian pharmacists are calling on State and Territory Governments to urgently reinstate COVID-19 mitigation measures Policies such as mask mandates, QR check-in codes and density limits to protect public health …
Image based scripts extended
The Department of Health has extended the ‘image based prescription’ interim measure which allows the supply of PBS medicines from a digital image of a prescription Under this Special Arrangement, …
COVID jab pay boosted
The Australian Government has moved to reverse funding cuts for pharmacists and GPs delivering booster shots This is a welcome development which should help manage the current surge in COVID-19 …
‘Hope is not a strategy here.’
Many pharmacies are not providing COVID boosters or dropping out of the program, while those still going are being “smashed” by demand Last month, in response to numerous stakeholder calls …
Clinical tips: Now that the borders are open…
Now the borders are open, what is the role of community pharmacy in the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID response? Community pharmacy in all states has stepped up …
GP calls for higher pharmacist booster pay
Pharmacists are underpaid for providing COVID-19 booster vaccines… says a leading GP Dr Omar Khorshid, national president of the Australian Medical Association, has highlighted the fact that both GPs and …
Boosters mean ‘huge, risky workloads,’ says pharmacist
Amid debate about remuneration, one pharmacist has questioned the way employee pharmacists are paid for giving the COVID booster shot In response to repeated calls by industry bodies and other …
Jab change ‘yet another challenge’
The Health Minister has his COVID booster shot, and brings forward eligibility – announcing yet more changes for underpaid pharmacies to keep up with, says a leading pharmacist Federal Health …