SEPTEMBER, Edition # 34, 2001

HAVE YOUR SAY!
We have set up a FORUM DISCUSSION GROUP at this link for you to comment on any of the material published in this newsletter.
It may also be used to highlight any non-related information that could be important to pharmacists.
Suggestions for future articles may also be posted.
This is your chance to have your say!

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

The recent sad events in America involving the hijacking of aircraft and the destruction of a number of symbolic buildings,have pointed up how vulnerable and interdependent we all are.
My condolences go out to any subscriber, Australian or American, who was personally touched by this recent tragedy.
The task of formulating a measured response to this outrage will require a disciplined approach to decision making, by American leaders, to ensure the actual measures do not embroil the World in a senseless cycle of violence and more destruction.
Only time will tell.
Roy Stevenson, one of our writers, has has aked me to express some of his thoughts, which though pungent, probably sums up the anger and sorrow we all currently feel:

"Oz Pharmacy problems pale into total insignificance after today's events.
Shit happens, mate, but only on the movies.
This is terrible .. the numbers they are talking about ... things will never be the same ... we will remember this day for a generation at least.
I am not particularly religious, and these terrible things were probably done in the name of religion of some sort .. but I suppose we will all seek some sort of comfort in whatever God we have.
I personally hope and pray that these bastards who organised this, live long enough to feel .. like REALLY feel the revenge of these 000's of victims of their actions"

The production of Edition #34 began with the drama of the act of war against America, and finished with the drama and images of 16,000 plus Ansett employees in deep distress over the apparent gross mismanagement, and subsequent collapse, of Ansett Aiways.
This event is going to affect the Australian economy in a much greater way than the HIH collapse or the OneTel collapse. The governments of New Zealand and Australia have been exposed as being totally incompetent in the areas of regulation and reform.
Competition policy is shaping up as a very sick joke.
I personally expressed my thoughts to my local member by email and I hope you will be moved to do so as well, because pharmacy is also caught up in this same, seemingly irrational, so called National Competition Policy.

Rollo Manning share some thoughts on the role of technology and the law, and how legislation can change dramatically, if technology is seen to be of public benefit.
Ken Stafford highlights a workplace problem which is generating high stress levels and inhibiting the introduction of a number of new initiatives. Seems like we need to get our house in order before marching into the brave new world.
Heather Pym seems to be having a ball.
She has just returned from a joint pharmacy/GP conference in Vietnam, and discusses how barriers are beginning to tumble between the two professions, with a new respect emerging. This is a spot of optimism in an otherwise difficult tangle of professional relationships.
Mark Coleman has contributed an interesting addition to his series on integrated health. Entitled the "Red Dot Revolution", he outlines a series of background developments by government, within the hospital system, which are driving the aggenda for integrated health. A "must read" if you want to make sense of the different aggendas that are currently driving pharmacy.
Aspects of retailing are discussed in the article "Are you part of the new economy?" and why you should have a micro audit of your inventory range and marketing strategies. Deficiencies in the supply chain are also covered.
Terry Irvine continues his series on how technology which exists now, could be utilised to change the dispensing and professional processes in pharmacy. This is only a medium term look into the future and gives you the opportunity to plan your own strategy to insulate (if possible) against future shocks.
Roy Stevenson is back with the locum scene telling it how it is, and in a simple "coal face" approach, illustrates why a lot of seemingly good initiatives being implemented in pharmacy, simply will not work.
Not because the initiatives are not good ones, but simply because the planning for implementation has ignored a few real problems. These will have to be solved before there is forward movement.
Pat Gallagher is back with some comments regarding the sale of information generated from your business. Should this occur and who reaps the benefits?
Simon Rudderham, our final year pharmacy student, shares his thoughts on rural health and the incentives available to students, and how the MIRAGE club is breaking down professional barriers at the grass roots.
Finally, our Roundup columnist discusses compliance issues and the factor of lifestyle, which must be included with any strategy.

Peter Sayers and Jon Aldous will be with us in the next editions, and I would like to introduce you to Stephen Rogers, a Western Australian pharmacist, who appears to be making great inroads in medication reviews and pharmacy consultancy. He certainly appears to have a dynamic practice and pharmacy business, but we will let him detail his thoughts and experiences to you in future editions, as he has agreed to write for Computachem Newsletter.
He has forwarded the following "bio":

Stephen Rogers. 56 years young. Community Pharmacist servicing Aged Care and Hospitals. I have 3181 places under Contract for Reviews and employ four Consultants, eleven Pharmacists in all. Father of three Adult children, one a Pharmacist, presently in UK. Comments: "Bruce Heal, Pharmacist from Adelaide, once told me that Pharmacy always did well in times of economic depression or uncertainty. Seems he was right for, although the World economies freefall, we in Pharmacy have never had it so good. Stability, certainty, an ever increasing NHS cheque, full employment. But just as the squirrels prepare for Winter, so should we. Don't put off that shop refit. Present your best face. Get advice on your ranging. Take up the offers for staff training. Get those new uniforms. You are being judged and it may deter a potential competitor to be seen as too smart to be taken on. In the next issues of this Newsletter I will share with you some of my experiences of Pharmacy and hope to stir some controversial issues too."

Stephen Rogers

Stephen should provide some good practical information for those pharmacists wishing to make the plunge into the new service areas, but not quite sure how to.

Anyone wishing to post messages of sympathy and support for victims of the American hijackers can do so through the Forum links found on this page and all other article pages.

Neil Johnston
September 15th, 2001

Back to Article Index Edition #34
Newsletter Reader's Forum

Next Article

The comments and views expressed in the above article are those of the author and no other. The author welcomes any comment and interaction, directly or via the Newsletter Reader's Forum Link located at the begginning and end of the article.
The newsletter archives are now fully searchable via the search engine on the left hand side of this page. If you would like to find similar articles to the above material, please enter the appropriate keyword(s). To retain context with multiple keywords or phrases, please enclose in inverted commas.
* Please contact us if you would like further information or would like us to research additional material to publish as future articles.	* Don't forget to advise of any change in your e-mail address so that your subscription may be continued without interruption.	* Letters to the editor are encouraged, or if you have material you would like published, please forward to the editor.	* Any interested persons who would like to receive this free newsletter on their desktop each fortnight, please send a single word e-mail "Subscribe"	* If you have found value in this newsletter, please share it with a friend, or alternatively, encourage a colleague to subscribe
* All Communications to: neilj@computachem.com.au
* You are invited to visit the Computachem web site and check out an organised reference site for medical or other references. Why not try (and bookmark) the Computachem Interweb Directory for an easily accessed range of medical and pharmacy links, plus a host of pharmacy relevant links. The directory also contains a very fast search engine for Internet enquiries. You may also access the Home Page at: http://www.computachem.com.au

Back to Article Index #34
Newsletter Reader's Forum
Article Archive 2000
Article Archive 2001
Home