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EDITORIAL

Australia's PBS Under Attack

NEIL JOHNSTON
Management Consultant Perspective

Our daily news of recent times has been filled with images from Baghdad and shock-horror stories from Pan Pharmaceuticals.
It has diminished two other stories running concurrently- proposed changes relating to the Medicare Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) being negotiated with the US.
All the above have some relationship, one to the other, due to their treatment from a global perspective.
I would like to comment on the FTA and the way in which US drug companies can engage with their government, and receive massive support for a power base which already appears excessive, particularly when that base engages with a developing country, or in some instances a developed country such as Australia.
The tactics employed can only be regarded as "bullying".

The Power of Cognitive Services -
Is it Strong Enough to Lift Pharmacists From the Basement to the Top Floor?

ROLLO MANNING
An Indigenous/Rural/Isolated/Remote Perspective

Editor's Note: As Rollo Manning's first indigenous pharmacy goes from strength to strength, he is finding common threads with mainstream pharmacy, as he confronts problems that emerge at different stages of development.
Given that he has a virtual "clean slate" to work with, he is looking for creative solutions that will have an impact, sufficient to earn pharmacy a position within a rural/remote clinical setting.
By looking over Rollo's shoulder, mainstream pharmacists may find suitable components to add to their own model, and so derive benefit for themselves, and their patients.

Pharmaceutical Ambivalence is a Problem-
True or False?

KEN STAFFORD
Consultant Pharmacist Perspective

Returning from visiting country pharmacies I turned on the news to hear about the Pan Pharmaceuticals debacle.
The very name gives rise to some concern (pharmaceuticals = pharmacy?). I question whether the products of this company are pharmaceuticals in the true sense of the name or are they food additives as defined by the TGA?

Counter Prescribing & the PBS

PETER SAYERS
Pharmacy Practice Management Perspective

A newspaper headline recently caught my eye, that stated that there were millions of dollars being wasted, because items dispensed as Pharmaceutical Benefits could have been procured at a cheaper price, by purchasing the same medication at a supermarket.
It was a cynical piece of reporting, and one that puts you on guard as to the real purpose of "planting" such an article. Paracetamol was the only drug mentioned.
Was it the supermarket lobby trying to promote the concept of "it's always cheaper in a supermarket", or was it the Federal Government signaling some major changes in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme?

How to Effectively Treat Osteoporosis?

ANDREW SNOW
Compounding Pharmacist Perspective

Is Alendronate, or a similar drug, the answer to such conditions such as osteoporosis?
Or should we be looking for other therapies such as natural progesterone?

New Cognitive Opportunities

JAMES ELLERSON
Marketing Consultant Perspective

A new science of Pharmacogenomics is emerging.
It involves tailoring a medication to an individual.
This is pharmacy business, so an awareness, and suitable training, should be programmed, targeting this new science for delivery as a cognitive service by consultant pharmacists.

The Pharmacy Guild and
Corporate Governance Principles

JOHN SKYLLAS
Community Pharmacist Perspective

Recently, the Australian Stock Exchange published its code of Good Governance Principles. The idea of these principles is to maintain or reestablish shareholder and investor confidence in Australian Companies. This confidence has been severely eroded in recent times by the collapse of various companies and the obscene payments made to many directors and executives.

Addressing Quality Use of Medicine
in a Division of General Practice

HEATHER PYM
Division of General Practice Perspective

From the days in pharmacy when I accepted a bunch of scripts with the request "I'll have one of each" with no thought as to the necessity, the cost or what this hotch botch of drugs was doing to the requester I have been determined to address the whole issue of Quality Use of Medicine as a pharmacist.
These were the days of 'free' medicine to the patient so it was a seemly time ago. Nevertheless this situation still occurs despite the "free" bit going and the challenge is to analyse and understand the various causative factors that preclude QUM and to address them.

World Pharmacy Leaders
Part  2a : London  2 - 5  January 2003

CON BERBATIS
Pharmacy Researcher Perspective

Part 1 (March 2003 report) featured media reports of issues  impinging on primary health care and medication control in Europe and North America.  Factors underlying current pharmacy developments  were explored by Con Berbatis in meetings with a sample of medical and pharmacy leaders in research, administration and practice  in the UK and North America during  January 2003.

Pan Damages Community Pharmacy Image

JOANNE SMITH
From a Consumer Perspective

After studying journalism for three years, I am sceptical when it comes to any news story appearing to be sensationalised for the sake of stirring the public.
Therefore, when the morning news became hysterical over Pan Pharmaceuticals, I barely raised an eyebrow from my cornflakes.
Why would I?
It appeared the media had attached itself to yet another story to sensationalise.
However, reports on Pan didn't stop with the morning news.
The entire story began to snowball and the tiny thought in the back of my mind started to wander forward and make itself known - I take multivitamins and I've taken them for years.

The FAQs Concerning MMRs

LACHLAN ROSE
A Student Perspective

As part of the final (and fourth) year course requirements, I have been participating in a Clinical Placement program for the past 6 weeks. The program involves completion of a 5 hour period, in an allocated pharmacy environment, every week for the duration of semester. Community pharmacies, hospitals, specialist clinics and nursing homes have provided the venue for a Medication Management Review (MMR) focused "re-education" of 4th year students. Manly hospital has become my home. And in the words of the great Morpheus, following Neo's release from the computer generated dream world that is The Matrix: "Welcome…….to the real world".

Prescribing by Pharmacists

KARALYN HUXHAGEN
Pharmaceutical Society Councilor Perspective

On the 21st November 2002,the British Health Minister launched a new health package allowing appropriately trained pharmacists and nurses to prescribe medicines by the summer of 2003. This announcement has caused a flurry of activity at the National Health Service, education facilities and the professional bodies, as structures are developed to be able to deliver these 'appropriately trained' health professionals in the time line provided.

Media Pan Handling

SIMON RUDDERHAM
Community Pharmacist Perspective

To paraphrase Eddie McGuire, what a big week it has been in pharmacy!
On Monday afternoon (28th April), during a routine counselling session on a repeat statin, I asked the patient if both her and the doctor were happy with the cholesterol levels. The answer was in the negative, and the patient then asked if there was anything she could do to reduce her cholesterol any further. I suggested an increase in omega 3 through the eating of fish or fish oil supplements.

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