News
Clinical tips: seasonal allergic rhinitis
Pharmacists can help clear up a lot of the myths around hayfever, writes Jarrod McMaugh Seasonal rhinitis may well be considered a pharmacist’s “bread and butter” – from the peaks …
Location rules in Parliament
A continuation of existing pharmacy location rule provisions is among the 2017 Budget amendments tabled in Parliament this week The measures are part of the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits – …
Missing an opportunity
Australian pharmacists may be missing a major opportunity to expand their professional role by being unaware of continued dispensing provisions A survey of Australian pharmacists’ attitudes to medicine reclassification (ie. …
What will the 2018 flu vaccine include?
The TGA has accepted committee recommendations for next year’s flu vaccine, which brings a new virus strain into the fold While this year’s flu season – one of the worst …
Confirmed flu notifications surpass 200,000
This year’s flu cases are more than double those of 2015 As of 16 October there have been a total of 212,365 laboratory confirmed notifications of influenza in Australia this …
Inner strength
Ministers have gathered at Parliament House to discuss plans to improve bone health and reduce fractures – with 160,000 fractures due to poor bone health this year alone With World …
Real-time script monitoring laws pass Parliament
The Victorian government has passed legislation to allow a mandatory prescription monitoring system to roll out by 2018 The Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Real-time Prescription Monitoring) Bill 2017, …
World news wrapup: 19 October 2017
NZ pharmacists oppose codeine upschedule; most Zambian pharmacies operating illegally; Chicago moves to reduce script pressure New Zealand: Radio New Zealand has detailed a debate over the potential upscheduling of …
DOACs have bleeding risk comparable to warfarin
A new type of drug used to treat blood clots does not put patients at a higher bleeding risk than warfarin, researchers have found Recent trials have shown similar effectiveness …
Assisted dying debate begins
Debate has begun in Victoria’s Parliament about the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill Under the proposed legislation, pharmacists would dispense medication in a “locked box” to patients with life-limiting illness who …
‘Hard proof’ of asthma reliever over-reliance
Nearly 40% of people with asthma only use reliever medicines, new research has found A study led by Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Sydney found that 39% of almost …
Pharmacists at ‘frontline’ of billion-dollar OTC sector: Hunt
Working with PSA, Guild and pharmacists is a “real pathway” for giving Australians better access to OTC meds, Health Minister tells World Self Medication Assembly Being able to access safe …