Giovanna Vinci MPS works in one of the suburbs that is going into lockdown.[/caption]
Bridget Totterman MPS[/caption]
‘It puts women in control by giving them fast, appropriate treatment every time, whether that includes antibiotics or not,’ she told Australian Pharmacist.
‘Particularly if they have had symptoms before, it improves access to treatment when they can’t get in to see their doctor soon enough. Otherwise women might put off treatment until their condition worsens.’
And there is precedent for this. Pharmacist prescribing for uncomplicated UTIs happens in other OECD countries, including New Zealand and the United Kingdom.1
PSA Queensland Branch President Shane MacDonald MPS. (Image: LinkedIn)[/caption]
PSA Queensland Branch President Shane MacDonald MPS is participating in his Townsville pharmacy.
‘This pilot clearly demonstrates the role pharmacists have in primary care and their ability to provide advice, referral and treatment where appropriate, all aligned to clinical guidelines,’ he told AP.
‘This service has been very successful overseas for a number of years and not only allows our highly trained pharmacists to practise to scope, it provides improved access for women who suffer from uncomplicated UTIs.’
Mr MacDonald also welcomed 
The CAL (Label 24, at right) can be applied to opioid medicines at the time of dispensing as an aid to counselling patients about the safe and effective use of opioids. An Opioid medicines patient information handout has been developed as a counselling aid.
Lloyd Sansom FPS[/caption]
Pene Wood MPS (Image: La Trobe University)[/caption]
Tighter regulation was one of the measures recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee to reduce harm associated with opioid use. Education and awareness campaigns will be phased in over the next two years.1
It comes in response to increasing numbers of deaths involving opioids in Australia. From 2007 to 2016, the number of deaths due to opioids nearly doubled, from 591 to 1,119 per year. Most deaths were due to prescription opioids rather than illicit opioids such as heroin.2
Suzanne Nielsen MPS (Image: Monash University)[/caption]
‘I think it is important how you have this conversation and the terminology you use, i.e. opioid toxicity instead of overdose. These medicines can be dangerous and need to be treated with care.’
A/Prof Nielsen said pharmacists need to support patients through these changes, particularly where new requirements, such as needing a second opinion, introduce new barriers to care.
She echoed the importance of education around opioid safety and keeping naloxone in the home.
‘It is an easily implementable strategy to raise awareness of risks and prevent opioid-related mortality among people prescribed opioids for chronic pain,’ A/Prof Nielsen said.
Community pharmacist Jenny Tam MPS, from Chermside Shopping Centre Pharmacy in Brisbane, is being more vigilant with opioid prescriptions this week, but thinks the changes are a good thing.
When dispensing large packs of opioids, she wonders what quantities people have stored in their homes. She would also welcome education on the place of naloxone so she could feel more comfortable recommending it to people prescribed opioids.
References
This article was independently produced with support from Roche.[/caption]
References: Aust Govt Dept of Health, CDC[/caption]
This article is produced in partnership with the Australian Digital Health Agency.[/caption]
With more than three million Australians reporting the use of an illicit drug in 2016 alone, pharmacists have a significant role to play in substance abuse education, prevention and support.
Learning objectivesAfter successful completion of this CPD activity, pharmacists should be able to:
Competencies (2016) addressed: 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, 3.6. Accreditation code: CAP1810C |
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According to the 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS), around 3.1 million Australians reported using an illicit drug that year. The most commonly used (at least once in the past 12 months) were cannabis (10.4%), cocaine (2.5%), and ecstasy (2.2%). Although use of crystal methamfetamine (ice) had declined (1.4%), those using it were doing so more frequently, increasing the risk of harm.1
Ap
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