A watershed moment for patients, pharmacists and medicine safety was reached last week when federal, state and territory health ministers declared Medicine Safety and the Quality Use of Medicines as the 10th National Health Priority Area.  Beginning with the January...

Critical problems with medication management, including overuse of psychotropic medicines on aged care facility residents were among the findings of the Interim Report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety last week needing urgent attention.1 The commissioners...

Mental illness has been treated as an ‘add-on to the physical health system’, the Productivity Commission has found, with up to 1 million Australians lacking the treatment and support services they need. Half of Australians will be affected by mental...

Early Career Pharmacists (ECPs) are emerging as a force for change as the profession moves to the safe and quality use of medicines, practising to the full extent of their skills and recognition for providing safe, equitable healthcare. The PSA...

Data released last month shows an increase in the number of aged care residents prescribed antimicrobials, highlighting the need for pharmacists to use their expertise to fight antimicrobial resistance.  The 2018 Aged Care National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (AC NAPS) found...

The Pharmacy Board of Australia has recognised that pharmacists should be able to prescribe under two monitored models of prescribing, in a move welcomed by PSA. In a position statement released this month,1 the Board’s vote of confidence in pharmacist...

Pharmacists in Queensland and Tasmania have been recognised for their contributions to the health of the community, with awards presented at two events at the weekend. During the Queensland PSA President’s Awards at the Queensland Annual Therapeutic Update on Saturday,...

The PSA board has appointed health care advocate and health policy expert Mark Kinsela as its new Chief Executive Officer.  Mr Kinsela was appointed after an extensive search and will begin his new role on 2 December. PSA National President Associate...

Trained pharmacist immunisers in Victoria will be able to administer the influenza vaccine to children 10 years and above from next year. Victorian health minister Jenny Mikakos said last week the government decided to lower the minimum vaccination age from...

About half of school leavers (schoolies) believe emergency contraception is only effective 12 or 24 hours after sexual intercourse, according to a new study urging a re-think of the term “morning after pill”. Led by researchers from Griffith University’s School...