The week in review
The New Year has started with the issues of medicines access and affordability dominating the headlines once again Pharmacy organisations are reiterating their calls for continued dispensing measures to be …
RAT plan needed to ensure access
Shortages of Covid-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) in Tasmania prompts call for supply chain plan to manage future waves Tasmanian patients are being forced to purchase expensive dual RATs or …
Suspended pharmacist found dead
Compounding pharmacist linked to the Essendon peptides scandal found dead following Ahpra suspension Victorian pharmacist, Nima Alavi, who was linked to the Essendon sports supplements scandal, has died months after …
Remorseful pharmacist banned over self-prescribing
Tribunal disqualifies Perth-based self-medicating pharmacist from seeking registration for at least 18 months The Pharmacy Board of Australia has announced that a Western Australian pharmacist who dispensed Schedule 4 medication to …
Pharmacy’s standing under threat
Pharmacy organisations need to focus on retaining the status among the public, a leading academic warns It’s February 1924, and pharmacists are being warned that the profession needs to change …
Potentially hazardous sports supplements seized
TGA seizes close to 500 sports supplements containing potentially dangerous substances during raid Sports supplements containing a range of prescription and prohibited substances have been seized by authorities following a …
Wholesalers working to deliver to flood-affected Victorians
Pharmaceutical wholesalers are working with pharmacies in flood-hit parts of Victoria to get medicines to patients in need Members of the National Pharmaceutical Services Association (NPSA), which represents Community Service …
Permanent continued dispensing a must: PSA
Australia cannot wait for natural disasters to strike before implementing measures to protect patient safety, PSA leaders say Temporary measures enabling pharmacists to provide PBS medicines to patients impacted by …
Patient costs going in wrong direction: Guild
Guild calls for indexed increases to PBS co-payments to be dropped to ease cost of living pressures Annual increases to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) general and concessional co-payments are …
Primary care needs more than money
Declining bulk billing rates suggest the government needs to look at alternatives to throwing money at GPs to boost access to primary care, a Guild leader says Bulk billing incentives …
Department clarifies Take Home Naloxone fees
Pharmacy Programs Administrator to update Take Home Naloxone claiming portal by March The Department of Health and Aged Care is clarifying claims entitlements for pharmacies participating in the Take Home …
Emergency access to scripts shouldn’t be a lottery
Floods highlight the need for bureaucrats to stop turning emergency medicines supply arrangements off a Pharmacy Guild of Australia leader says Continued dispensing measures should be activated permanently to ensure …