GuildCare Pharmacy of the Month
The April 2016 GuildCare Pharmacy of the Month is Soul Pattinson Chemist, Ashfield, NSW Proprietor/Pharmacist Fritz Dy tells us what GuildCare means to his pharmacy: “GuildCare provides a brilliant platform …
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 …
Harm minimisation efforts pay big dividends
It’s time for pharmacists to speak up about the benefits of harm minimisation, writes Angelo Pricolo Many issues were discussed at the 2 March 2016 Drug Summit organised by the …
ACCC appeals $1.7m Nurofen penalty
Consumer watchdog says fine is inadequate deterrent. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is appealing the federal court’s decision to fine Reckitt Benckiser $1.7 million for its Nurofen Specific Pain …
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 …
Pharmacist pleads guilty to poisoning assistant
A NSW pharmacist has pleaded guilty to charges of repeatedly putting drugs in a pharmacy assistant’s drinks while at work. Yan Chi “Anthony” Cheung, 33, appeared before Waverley Local Court …
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 …
Research roundup
Debbie Rigby presents the latest research new relevant to pharmacy It is time to stop prescribing oral salbutamol There is minimal evidence to support the use of oral salbutamol for …
Reader reaction
Pharmacists fire up over low wages claim Readers have reacted to recent stories claiming that pharmacy graduates have some of the lowest wages of any profession, and the potential for …
Pharmacy bowel screens pass the test
Convenience trumps faecal aversion when it comes to bowel cancer screening, according to a new CSIRO-led study. While blood-based screening averts the need for faecal testing – which many can …
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 …