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Bio-Wearables – “Tech Tats” with a Difference
A new group of technologists has taken up the challenge of “bio-hacking” – a range of systems for unlocking, measuring and transmitting various body biometrics. This group stands for citizen ownership of the new technology and is developing products that while being functional, may also be a fashion item. Above all, they will be affordable.…
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The Paris Attacks – an Impetus for Community Pharmacy to be an Emergency Triage Point
Recently, I have written two articles relating to triaged services from a pharmacy environment and how community pharmacy could be integrated into a public emergency system. In these articles I made the proposition that Location Rules night have more meaning if pharmacies were able to be strategically located throughout Australia because of the need to…
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Our Thinking and Thought Leadership is Reflected
I2P has long espoused that community pharmacy has deep roots embedded in patient centering and engagement and has won all of its “stripes” on the basis of all the things that our antecedents did right. Those “roots” were responsible for our unique style of “over-the-counter prescribing” as well has building a market in compunded prescriptions…
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Health Disruption to Health Care – by Health Funds and Major Investors
Health funds are beginning to look at disruptive or innovative acquisitions that will help in their objective of converting as many health systems as possible to become part of a managed care consortium. While the process promises lower health costs, low health insurance premiums and a five star system for patients to rate their health…
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The PBS $1 Discount – Strategies for Coping
The next 12 months will be a real time of testing as the discount PBS co-payment of $1 begins to bite. You must prepare to combat this process immediately to ensure that your pharmacy will survive. This cynical process adopted by government, has the potential to generate many bankruptcies after the first year of introduction. And…
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Leadership, Future Direction, Public Health and Triage Services
Most pharmacists recognise the need to expand their focus from dispensing to something wider. Community pharmacy is the most visible “face” of pharmacy, but its leadership struggles to keep its members focused on creative pathways that utilise the natural advantages of a community pharmacy – convenient location, health professional availability and access, a “core” duality…
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Medical Marijuana Creates Clinical and Financial Opportunity for Pharmacists
The Australian Government intends to amend the Narcotic Drugs Act to allow cannabis to be grown for medicine or science and ensure that Australia is not in breach of international drug treaties. In Australia currently Cannabis is prohibited or otherwise managed through Drug Scheduling: (a) when separately specified in these Schedules; or (b) processed hemp…
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Back to Basics – What is your marketing strategy?
I have heard many comments floating around in pharmacy discussions, that community pharmacy has become exceptionally vulnerable since the “Big Yellow Box” has demonstrated that it can outspend all the rest of pharmacy in advertising. In other words, only two camps exist – them and us! To me, that is a lot of nonsense, since…
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The Rules of Engagement For Practice Pharmacists Being Debated
The two leadership organisations, The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA) have been involved in preparing position statements in respect of pharmacists working within the environment of a GP practice. At this point in time I have been able to find a reasonably comprehensive document published by the PGA,…
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Medical Marijuana and its Positive Possibilities for Pharmacy
The case for legalising marijuana for medical purposes has been tested – and has been won (Victoria has set in motion the regulatory arrangements for this to happen in their state-others will follow). Now it’s the turn of the regulators who have the problem of separating legal use from illegal use. As more research is…