Legal
Rushed changes are breaking pharmacy
Pharmacists are running out of time and energy to fix problems with the new national methadone Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) system Clerical drama surrounding changes to opioid management programs, combined …
Pharmacist jailed over PBS fraud
A refugee who achieved her dream of becoming a pharmacist will serve six months behind bars after pleading guilty to defrauding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) of $4.1m Over the …
Training misrepresentation a ‘serious matter’: Fair Work
A pharmacist signed her pharmacy assistant partner’s training plan – but their employer knew nothing about it A pharmacy assistant has applied to the Fair Work Commission for an unfair …
Pharmacist confused, slurring and incoherent at work
A pharmacist was on duty with a blood alcohol concentration of around 0.30 and under the influence of benzodiazepines, when he fell over in the dispensary and had to be …
Cannabis ads cop $66k TGA fine
NSW Central Coast wellness operation allegedly ran “unlawful” medicinal cannabis product advertising says regulator The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued five infringement notices totalling $66,600 to Affinity Corp Australia …
Inappropriate prescribing revealed by pharmacy probe
An investigation into a pharmacy sparked another into a GP, who wrote 121 fentanyl scripts for one person in just over a year The Civil and Administrative Tribunal NSW has …
Pharmacist’s ‘elaborate and systematic’ scheme to get opioids
A former pharmacist used a copied key to get into his former workplace, fake scripts and take fentanyl – all by the light of his mobile phone The Pharmacy Board …
Board opens consultation on revised compounding guidelines
Stakeholders have until 24 July to share their views on the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s draft revised Guidelines on compounding of medicines The Pharmacy Board of Australia has opened a …
Security guard kicked in head
A Gold Coast security guard has said that if it wasn’t for the quick actions of a customer, he could have been badly hurt in a pharmacy brawl Harbour Town, …
TGA fines health practitioners over S4 imports
Regulator issues infringement notices to health practitioners for alleged unlawful importation of unregistered prescription medicines The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued fines totaling $13,320 to three separate health professionals …
Ahpra to use new power ‘sparingly’
Health regulators will be able to warn the public about registered and unregistered practitioners who are deemed to pose serious risks under new legislation A new power will enable the …
The week in review
It was a challenging week for Australia’s community pharmacy sector, as Treasurer, Jim Chalmers announced the federal Budget, while pleas for MBS provider numbers were also knocked back Efforts to win …