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EDITORIAL
EVENTS
The
Pharmaceuticals Summit
Last
chance to book
Claiming
the Weekend Back
NEIL
JOHNSTON
Management
Consultant Perspective
One of the major
problems facing community pharmacies is the relentless ongoing increase
in dispensing business.
A large prescription volume was once seen as the measure of success
of a pharmacist.
It does not have the same lustre today.
However, it is core business, and it cannot be disregarded.
I recently
had cause to visit four community pharmacy proprietors in a rural town.
Of the four, three were able to see me with varying degrees of difficulty,
and the fourth was not available.
All of the pharmacists looked extremely worried and stressed, although
the proprietor of the pharmacy with the smallest turnover began to relax
(and actually smiled) after a few minutes.
A
regular column reporting the news behind the news
PHARMA-GOSS
With
Rollo Manning
*
PBS FUTURE AND FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
* NEED
TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF I.T.
*
NSW LIFTS THE CAP ON NUMBER OF PHARMACIES
A PHARMACIST CAN OWN
The
Tail Wagging the Dog?
KEN
STAFFORD
Consultant
Pharmacist Perspective
Over
the past few weeks I have been very interested to watch the furore that
erupted with the "down scheduling" of ibuprofen and nicotine
patches.
As I listened to and read the numerous stories of potential death and
doom the thought took root that this appears to be a case of the tail
wagging the dog.
Does
it Cost or Does it Pay?
CON
BERBATIS
From
a Researcher Perspective
Editor's
Note: Woolworths is pushing forward with its pharmacy concept, into
rural areas.
A model is being established in a Woolworth's site on the far north
coast of NSW.
It will not have a pharmacist, or scheduled drugs, but it will have
the "look and feel" of a pharmacy (like a Priceline store
in a Woolworths environment).
Like
most pharmacists, I find the concept difficult to accept.
It struck me when I received this material from Con Berbatis, that the
AIDS/HIV community would feel disadvantaged in such an environment.
This particular community is passionate about privacy and very sensitive
as to how they receive their drugs, and health advice.
Out of my own experience I could not see this group of patients warming
to a Woolworths pharmacy, and Con Berbatis asks this question in his
article.
I make the point because the Northern Rivers Health Area, in which Ballina
is situated, has the largest rural population of HIV/AIDS patients in
NSW, possibly Australia (except for capital cities).
How then do the economic rationalists deciding competition policy in
this country, evaluate fairly the economic savings made by pharmacy
in the interventions with the AIDS/HIV community?
Surely the dollars saved in this process would more than offset some
perceived discount that Woolworths may offer in the supply of drugs?
Well, corporates like Woolworths do not have a social conscience, and
the shareholer's returns always rules at the end of the day.
Harm minimisation services would not give the desired return.
It is time a different form of accounting was introduced, so that like
can be compared to like.
Con
Berbatis is currently researching US and UK supermarket pharmacies to
see exactly how many provide harm minimisation services, and to what
depth.
His
findings will be progressively published in i2P, and will provide economic
arguments for governments, and others, to consider.
Did
you Feel the Earth Move?
Change - Not Coming - It's Happening
PAT
GALLAGHER
From
an IT Consultant Perspective
Attentive readers
of this publication will know that I have tried over the past 15 months
or so to only comment on matters primarily to do with the boring, the
tedious and the obvious. The supply chain and the latter being the Internet
and/or e-anything.
Barcodes,
POS, unique product identifiers, data capture and reticulation, central
product repositories (cataloguing), leadership (largely lack of) and
so forth.
Ho-hum.
Recognition
of Dispensary Technicians/Assistants
KARALYN
HUXHAGEN
From
a PSA Councilor Perspective
I
have previously written on the need for pharmacists to reassess their
staff dynamics. In the acute workforce shortages that we have at this
present time there is a desperate need for owners and managers to ensure
that they maximize the workload that certain pharmacy assistants and
retail managers can undertake to help ease the burden that often falls
to the pharmacist. In return for the effort and skills that these staff
members contribute towards a successful business it is always rewarding
to be able to offer staff recognition for their efforts.
Minnie
Masters
CATHERINE
BRONGER
A
Student Perspective
On
the 8th of this month there will be 263 new 1st year pharmacy students
at Sydney University.
In two years 37 of these will graduate as Masters.
In 2006 there will be over a hundred extra pharmacist graduates from
Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra and Griffin.
Are these graduates an inferior race, will they be friends or foes?
Coaching
- The New Way to go
for Better Health Outcomes
HEATHER
PYM
Division
of General Practice Perspective
Several new programs
have been implemented in the Division this year so it is early days
yet for evaluation although there is good evidence for better health
outcomes for all the initiatives being implemented.
All the new programs hope to bridge the chasm that exists for many patients
leaving hospital and taking up life again in their normal environment.
Natural
products shown to be effective in preventing Alzheimer's disease
VAL
JOHANSON
Complementary
Healthcare Council Perspective
Marked by progressive
mental deterioration, Alzheimer's disease causes loss of memory and
cognitive function and a gradual inability to carry out daily activities.
Alzheimer's disease is thought to be caused by the accumulation of abnormal
protein pieces known as "beta-amyloid" fibrils which cause
oxidative stress on cells- particularly neural cells. (1,6)
Alzheimer's disease accounts for up to 70% of dementia in Australia.
There is no cure.
At best, preventative measures are only recently being partially understood
and complementary healthcare products (particularly antioxidants) is
at the forefront of this understanding. (1)
Customer
Service vs Price Difference
SIMON
RUDDERHAM
New
Community Pharmacist Perspective
Recently a large
warehouse style chemist has opened up in the area near my newly purchased
pharmacy.
My first reaction to the competition was to expect a drop in business
and a lowered customer base.
The grand opening was mentioned in all of the local newspapers, with
big glossy catalogues outlining the cost of prescription and non prescription
medications, and a truck with a large A-Frame advertising being driven
around the town, frequently being parked in front of some of the larger
pharmacies.
A
Digital Imaging Boom
JAMES
DELAHUNTY
Digital
Photography Perspective
It's almost a year
since the Photographic Merchants Association (PMA) Pharmacy Group was
formed, but due to various circumstances very little has happened.
However Pharmacy's interest in photography is increasing by leaps and
bounds despite the falling sales of conventional "D & P"
A major reason is the growth of digital camera sales.
While many people are printing their own images at home, earlier predictions
are becoming true and more and more are taking their memory cards to
stores with digital minilabs and now to stand-alone and in-house kiosks
- which offer fairly rapid service.
These kiosks are forecast as the biggest growth factor for photo and
pharmacy stores to remain and to grow in photofinishing sales.
PMA have agreed to assist the group with a venue and the time to get
together and discuss pharmacy's problems, ideas, promotions and growth
in this regard.
This will be at the PMA Convention in Darling Harbour on Sunday 23rd
May 2004 at 2 pm.
Chairman of the group, James Delahunty has produced the attached Newsletter
with his thoughts on pharmacy and photography today.
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