New Zealand
NZ hit by near total e-script outage
95% of country’s pharmacies unable to dispense electronically after unplanned firewall disruption An external security update has brought down New Zealand’s e-Prescription Service (NZePS) service, with disruption to 95% of …
Chemist Warehouse celebrates continued international expansion
First New Zealand CWH supplier event celebrates six years in NZ Discount pharmacy giant Chemist Warehouse (CWH) has held its inaugural supplier event in New Zealand to celebrate six years …
Kiwi doctors urge end to consumer drug ads
Combined bodies push for end to “biased, overly optimistic” pharmaco advertising An open letter calling for an end to New Zealand’s unusual direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines has been published …
Kiwis drop NZD$5 script copay
July change will cost AUD$580.6m over four years, says NZ health minister The New Zealand government will remove its NZD$5 (AUD$4.69) copayment for prescription medicines, the country’s health minister Ayesha …
Chemist Warehouse boasts 540+ ANZ outlets
ANZ expansion continues apace with 17 new stores since year’s start, group announces on LinkedIn Chemist Warehouse’s expansion continues undiminished with the disruptor retailer claiming it now has 540 stores …
Smaller pharmacies ‘unable to compete’ on free scripts, salaries
NZ community pharmacies are feeling the squeeze from “critical” staff shortages, with corporate-owned pharmacies and chains like Chemist Warehouse blamed for exacerbating the issue A New Zealand pharmacy owner has …
World news wrapup: 11 August 2016
AJP takes a look at pharmacy news from around the world Missouri, US: Five pharmacies from four states have filed a class-action lawsuit against pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) Express Scripts, reports …
New Zealand pioneering downscheduling: Gauld
With last year’s reclassification of sildenafil, New Zealand reinforced its reputation as an innovator in down-scheduling medicines from prescription to non-prescription status, says ASMI. International switch expert Dr Natalie Gauld …
Kiwi call for oral contraceptive downschedule rejected
New Zealand pharmacies won’t be able to supply the oral contraceptive pill over the counter, following the Medicines Classification Committee’s decision not to reclassify them from prescription to restricted medicine. …
Oz lags behind NZ in meds access: ASMI
ASMI says New Zealand is ahead of Australia in increasing consumer access to medicines. This was in response to a new study published in PLOS One, which compared consumer access …
Pharmacy Guilds sign new MOU
The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Representatives from the Guilds renewed their MOU, first signed in …