1.8 million pharmacy support signatures presented to UK PM
UK pharmacy stakeholders have delivered a record-breaking petition in support of community pharmacy to Prime Minister David Cameron, protesting against the slashing of funds to the sector. The petition reached …
World news wrapup: 26 May 2016
A look at this week’s pharmacy news from around the world UK: A British pharmacist has been struck off for falsifying 19 medicines use reviews (MURs) during two months, Chemist …
All encouraged to report ADRs
Pharmacists, other health professionals and consumers have been encouraged to report adverse medicines events, during a session at the National Medicines Symposium last week. Consultant pharmacist Debbie Rigby urged pharmacists …
PSA calls for national real-time reporting
Hundreds of lives would be saved and hospitalisations reduced if a national real-time recording and reporting system for medicines was adopted, according to a new statement by the PSA. Recent …
Study to examine melatonin in kids with ADHD
A University of Queensland trial could help the families of children with ADHD to get a decent night’s sleep. Researchers are recruiting participants for the study into the effectiveness of …
Amcal, Guardian target kidney health
Amcal and Guardian Pharmacies are getting behind Kidney Health Week (May 22– 29), Kidney Health Australia’s national awareness campaign which is urging all Australians to check their kidney health. The …
Deprescribing: barriers and enablers
Community pharmacists can play a strong role in identifying patients who would benefit from a review of their medicines with a view to deprescribing, says one expert. Kristen Anderson from …
Opioids have minimal benefit in low back pain
New research from The George Institute for Global Health and the University of Sydney has found that opioid painkillers, commonly used in low back pain, provide minimal benefit. The findings …
Barriers to e-cigarettes in smoking cessation
Australia needs to reconsider the ways it manages reducing smoking rates, including allowing some e-cigarettes to be sold legally, says an expert on substance abuse – but another expert has …
AUST L requirements encourage ‘shonky products’
Monash University’s Dr Ken Harvey has highlighted issues around the AUST L listing on complementary medicines, which consumers do not understand well, he says, as well as the process for …
Tobacco price rise helps, not harms, the poor
Instead of a regressive policy which targets the poor, the ongoing rise in tobacco excise benefits the poor more than it does the rich, say experts. Public health physician Dr …
Huge gaps in understanding paracetamol harm: study
A study of adults who had recently purchased children’s paracetamol has indicated that many people don’t know basic information about the commonly used medicine. Presented at last week’s National Medicines …