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Do we exclude our oldest customers?
People over the age of 85 are significantly more likely to suffer social exclusion than those in the 65 to 85-year-old bracket, according to new research. We know that a loss of social contact can damage physical and mental health, and furthermore, older people are more likely to need care from external providers. Let’s look […]
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OMNS – Sugar Fraud
Fear may be an effective technique for promoting drug sales and gaining votes, but should not displace the calm presentation of a healthful life style factor. For example, recently the “sugar is good; fat is bad” mantra has been exposed to the light of truth.[1] A recent Medscape report began with: “Highly respected, high profile U.S. medical […]
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The Desensitised Culture
It’s time for a new prescription The community pharmacy is fighting to survive amid aggressive price disclosures, high expenses and pressures from wholesalers. Yet, the treatment of slashing costs and pushing discounts only focuses on the symptom of financial turmoil, rather than treating the root cause of the problem. The financial turmoil facing the pharmacy […]
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Consumerism, health care costs and patient-centred “homes”
Health objectives in Australia are shifting from fee for service models to capitation models in a bid to simultaneously improve quality and reduce costs. The idea of a patient-centred “home” led by a doctor is touted as the principal model of care. i2P has always pointed to the fact that any business model led by […]
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Three Bioethicists Critical of Pharmacy Retailing
Three bioethicists have combined to criticise the concept of community pharmacy conducting retail front of shop activities, while simultaneously working in the best interests of the patient. Their comments are published in Croakey here. The bioethicists, Wendy Lipworth, Christopher Mayes and Ian Kerridge (all medical academics attached to the University of Sydney) discuss what is […]
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Do your patients use their blood pressure medications correctly?
A recent analysis of the use of blood pressure medications within the United States Medicare system reveals that 26 per cent either skip doses, or stop taking their drugs entirely, thereby increasing their risk of heart attack and stroke. Other research within that system shows that up to 25 per cent of new prescriptions for […]
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Good Pharmacy Practice – It solves the Problems of Moving Forward
Pharmacy Practice is undergoing a review process in Australia because the primary source of income (the PBS) for community pharmacy has reached the end of its life-cycle. The future of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme indeed looks bleak so re-modelling of dispensing services is unavoidable. Many aspects of Australian pharmacy practice have been one of the best […]
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Education – Bring it on!
I continue to be amazed at the options available to give better results to our patients. No more is this evident in the area of complementary medicines. Young pharmacists to whom I speak give me the impression that complementary medicines are unproven, unprofessional and almost “beneath” them from a patient care perspective. What they are […]
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The University stands by Anti-Vaccination PhD Thesis
Editor’s Note: Gradually, the hoaxes involving the production of new vaccines (such as Zika virus vaccines) and the global networks that front for these activities, are slowly being made transparent. The shadowy footprint of Big Pharma allegedly seems to be both the facilitator of negative publicity that promotes its marketing objectives, and the provider of funds (directly and […]
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Why are there no Medical Whistleblowers?
Editor’s Note: John Rappoport is a well known US investigative journalist.He perfected his craft through well known media networks that are simply described as “mainstream”.Like many of his peer group he has had to observe with dismay, the dismantling and corruption of his profession.His moral compass took over and he joined what is now called […]