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EDITORIAL
The
U.K "Bombshell"-Australian Fallout?
NEIL
JOHNSTON
Management
Consultant Perspective
The middle
of January2003 has been electrifying for most small to medium sized
UK pharmacists, who now find their livelihood threatened once more.The
Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has recommended to the UK Government that
the control of entry regulations for UK community pharmacies be abolished.
A similar system existing in Australia is built around NHS approval
numbers, but state legislation introduces some safeguards for pharmacists.
The UK Government process is not dissimilar to the New Zealand Government's
attempt, almost twelve months ago to the day, to achieve a similar outcome.
The fallout for Australia is that if the UK Government is successful,
Australian pharmacists may be in the firing line.
I have previously written on this topic in respect of New Zealand, and
I believe it would be in the interest of most thinking Australian and
UK pharmacists to revisit these articles.
"Pharmacists
Freed from Shopkeeping"
"NZ Ownership Loss (2)"
"NZ Ownership Loss (3)"
"NZ Ownership Reversal"
A
Multipurpose Approach to Pharmacy Representation
ROLLO
MANNING
An
Indiginous/Rural/Isolated/Remote Perspective
The time will come
when the Pharmacy Guild of Australia is forced to change its Constitution
if it wants to continue to be viewed as the "voice of pharmacy"
in Australia.
The Guild has done an excellent job in projecting itself to Government
as the body to be consulted on everything pharmaceutical, but, as the
next few years roll by there will be increasing pressure on it to expand
its charter so to represent the views of all pharmacists AND not just
those who own a pharmacy. (4,800, or less, out of 12,000).
Incorporated
Pharmacies.
TERRY
IRVINE
Community
Management Perspective
There is an emotional
significance to many pharmacists, having qualified, being able to open
their own pharmacy business. Or more likely, being able to buy an existing
pharmacy.
There is a cost/benefit to all of this- be protected from the competition
of "big business", or suffer a drastic loss to family life-
these are the choices.
It will also require pharmacists to have skills they were not taught
at pharmacy college.
The
More Things Change the More They Stay the Same
KEN
STAFFORD
Consultant
Pharmacist Perspective
I would like to
wish all our readers a very productive and happy 2003.
Doesn't time pass so quickly when you're having fun?
February is nearly on us and Neil is again yelling for my copy for next
newsletter.
The start of a new year is possibly time for a little contemplation
of what is going on in the world of pharmacy.
In Australia, pharmacists once again appear near the top of the Morgan
poll of most trusted professions, (second only to nurses).
In the UK, the Pharmacy Journal wonders what the profession can do to
regain the respect of the public and, in the USA, there just aren't
enough pharmacists to meet demand.
It appears that the more we want to change the more things stay the
same!
Is
Quality Care Accreditation Worth the Effort?
JOHN
SKYLLAS
Community
Pharmacist Perspective
My New Year's resolution
this year was to make a concerted effort to finally become Quality Care
Accredited. So while most people at this time of year are relaxing on
a beach somewhere, I found myself spending hour after hour reading through
endless Quality Care Program manuals, doing performance benchmarking,
typing up pharmacy procedures and so forth.
Bulk
Billing Clinics-a Pharmacist's Nightmare
KARALYN
HUXHAGEN
PSA
Councilor Perspective
Stock control of
prescription medications is becoming a huge nightmare even with a well
managed point of sale system. We have been using point of sale for many
years and have firm procedures in place to ensure the stock control
is kept as tight as possible. The advent of so many generic companies
have seen a need to have a 'highlight' system in the dispensing computer
so locums know which generic is your preferred company.
Reformatting
the System - With Promising Results ?
HEATHER
PYM
Division
of General Practice Perspective
Working in a Quality
Use of Medicine mode provides many challenges and opportunities to look
'outside the square'.
The Hospital/community integration projects the Division is involved
in does just this. In medication matters there are huge obstacles to
think around. My involvement with some of Melbourne's major hospitals
on Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) in discharge planning and pulling
together the available community and hospital resources to address the
problem of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) that lead to readmission for
many patients is both stimulating and satisfying professionally.
Globalisation-Has
it Caught up with You?
JAMES
ELLERSON
A
Marketing Consultant Perspective
Each year I stand
back and have a look at the effects of globalisation on Australia, and
marvel at the rapidity of change and the pace at which it is occurring.
Government is driving a lot of the change by facilitating the ability
of business to deal with them via the Internet. This extends both reach
and opportunity, but also drives activity that is not always favourable
to individual Australians.
My concern for pharmacy is that it is not adapting fast enough to cope
with the effects of globalisation. The end result of this lack of adaptation
may be that government will lose patience and deregulate community pharmacy
in a manner which is not acceptable to the majority of pharmacists.
This could happen within five years.
I believe, with some reluctance, that the only way to avoid this scenario,
is to embrace globalisation in such a manner that Australian pharmacy
can lead the world.
I also believe that 2003 is the decision point.
Time
to Re-Invent the Safety Net
SIMON
RUDDERHAM
Newly
Registered Pharmacist Perspective
Few would argue
that we have one of the best drug subsidy system in the world.
It gives a leg-up to concession holders to purchase their medicines,
and even more of a leg up if they have to purchase more than 52 prescriptions
per year.
It allows non-concessional patients (the "generals") the opportunity
to contribute the first twenty three dollars of life-saving therapy,
helping them out even more after seven hundred dollars worth of medication
is purchased
Is
Pharmacy Returning to its Roots?
ANDREW
SNOW
Pre-Registration
Pharmacist Perspective
Well, university
life has now become a thing of the past for me. Entering to workforce
has already proven to be exciting, challenging, and tiring. After working
my first sixty-hour week, I realised the true definition of exhaustion.
My boss has given me the responsibility to perform and maintain various
tasks within the pharmacy. This has been a good test of my orgainisation
and efficiency.
I have been fortunate enough to be in control of many extemporaneous
products.
Commonwealth
to Field Test System
to Reduce Drug Errors
MEDIA
RELEASE
SENATOR THE HON. KAY PATTERSON
Minister
for Health and Ageing
The Federal Minister
for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, today announced that Launceston
and Ballarat have been selected as Field Test locations for an e-health
initiative designed to help reduce health problems caused by adverse
reactions to medicines.
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