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New 9 Strain HPV Vaccine Has Double the Aluminium.
Double the Aluminium (500 mcg) in the New 9 Strain HPV Vaccine Many of us were informed (19 December 2014) by a research fellow in infrastructure modelling, Matthew Berryman, that a new HPV vaccine covering 9 strains of HPV has just been approved by the FDA. However the notification did not include the fact that the…
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Primary Health Networks must be local and multidisciplinary
In meetings last week with Ministers Dutton and Nash, the National Rural Health Alliance reiterated the principles which must inform the size, management and functions of the new Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to take over next year from Medicare Locals. Pharmacists must try and engage with these entities, some of which will be Medicare Locals…
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2015 – a New Year Breakthrough
We are at the end of another tumultuous year. As I write there is a hostage negotiation under way in the Lindt chocolate cafe in Martin Place in Central Sydney CBD. It’s hard to concentrate and we are certainly living in more violent times. Who knows – this time next year we might be giving…
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Medicines That Matter – Drug Schedules Administered by Pharmacists
It’s taken a long time for pharmacy proprietors and their leadership body to take a good look and this sector of medicines and actually do something with it. But at least it is being reviewed and that has to be a plus. Another sector, with only a handful of scheduled items within it is the…
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UK Clinical Services Blocked
“The drive to move pharmacy away from a medicines supply role has made “disappointing” progress over the past year, think tank the Nuffield Trust has said.The sector must “seize the opportunities on offer” or its future over the next decade “looked bleak”, the think tank warned in its report on how attitudes to pharmacy have…
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A Disappointing Guideline on Methadone Treatment
A disappointing ‘guideline’ on methadone treatment. Methadone Safety Guidelines. Methadone Safety: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American Pain Society and College on Problems of Drug Dependence, in Collaboration With the Heart Rhythm Society. Chou R, Cruciani RA, Fiellin DA, Compton P, Farrar JT, Haigney MC, Inturrisi C, Knight JR, Otis-Green S, Marcus SM, Mehta…
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Important Breakthrough in Clinical Room Design
Research has shown that clinical services can be inhibited in pharmacy in the introductory phase of development if the elements of good marketing and management are missing. Marketing is a “communicator” element and the technique of telling a story that communicates the new culture of pharmacy is extremely important. Services are like products and have…
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Price Waterhouse Cooper Sees 2015 as Good for Pharmacy
Editor’s Note: There are not too many upbeat positives for pharmacy these days anywhere in our global village community. But it’s happening and the trend is following here in Australia with momentum building. It’s the cost that is the main driver, and while US costs far exceed Australian costs, it’s now reaching a level where…
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Doctor’s “Party Line” Analysed By Mainstream Media At Last!
Editor’s Note: For as many years as I can remember, doctors have been pressing government to fund education for an increasing number of doctors and for doctors to control just about every aspect of primary health care, particularly in leadership roles. Suddenly the mainstream media is beginning to question the party line, along with government.…
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Preventing Medical Errors with Proven Bar-Code Technology
Bar-code technologies, which have proven effective at points-of-sale in stores and during order-fulfillment in warehouses are preventing errors at points-of-care and during medication preparations in hospitals. A US television commercial for Berlitz language courses begins with a senior officer briefing a draftee on how to man the station before leaving him on his own. No…