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[post_content] => Endometriosis, affecting approximately one in seven Australian women, remains under-recognised, under-funded and misunderstood.
Despite the profound impact endometriosis has on health and wellbeing, its diagnosis and management is complex – with an average of 6–8 years between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis.
‘This delay is where pharmacists have a crucial role in recognising the symptoms of endometriosis and referring women promptly for diagnosis and treatment,’ said Grace Wong, Medication Safety Pharmacist at The Royal Women's Hospital – who will be leading a session on Championing change for endometriosis care at PSA25 next month.
Why does endometriosis take so long to diagnose?
There are several interrelated factors at play. Historically, a definitive diagnosis of endometriosis required laparoscopic surgery with histopathological confirmation.
But the limited availability of trained gynaecologists to perform these procedures has created a bottleneck in timely diagnosis.
Additionally, the variable and often non-specific nature of endometriosis symptoms – such as chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, dysmenorrhea, cyclical hematuria, dysuria and gastrointestinal disturbances – can lead to misdiagnosis of other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Patients experiencing chronic pelvic or abdominal pain may present repeatedly for symptom relief, with opioids or high-dose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) often supplied without further investigation into the underlying cause. This pattern not only delays appropriate diagnosis but also increases the risk of adverse effects and medicine overuse.
Societal stigmas surrounding menstruation can lead many to normalise menstrual pain, delaying medical attention.
‘Removing stigma and making women feel confident and comfortable to speak to their pharmacist for advice is something pharmacists and pharmacy support staff can continue to improve,’ Wong said.
When should endometriosis be suspected?
Endometriosis should be considered in anyone of reproductive age presenting with persistent pelvic pain – especially when it’s acyclical, unresponsive to first-line treatments, or associated with other gynaecological symptoms such as dyspareunia (painful intercourse) or dysmenorrhoea.
Atypical symptoms of endometriosis include:
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[post_content] => On 1 July 2025, new vaping standards came into force for all therapeutic vaping products for smoking cessation and nicotine dependence.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration's (TGA’s) strengthened standards, designed to reduce harm from vape use, are the culmination of the national vaping reforms, said PSA Project Manager Nikita Dalla Venezia, who worked closely on the PSA’s Professional practice guidelines for pharmacists: nicotine dependence support.
‘Because the changes were fairly substantial, my understanding is that they were staggered,’ she said. ‘This is just the next step of that comprehensive approach to mitigating risk for people who use therapeutic vapes.’
The principal purpose of the reforms is to minimise youth uptake of vaping – an objective that, according to the Cancer Council’s iterative Generation Vape study, appears to be succeeding.
‘In Wave 7 of the study, which came out after the reforms were introduced, over 50% of youths said they would decline a vape if offered one from a friend, which is a substantial increase from Wave 2 data (less than 40%) that was collected prior to the reforms,’ Ms Dalla Venezia said.
What key changes are introduced in the updated standards?
Changes to the packaging, labelling and design of vaping products have been introduced.
Vaping devices and accessories now need to appear as therapeutic products to reduce their appeal for recreational use among both adolescents and adults, Ms Dalla Venezia said.
‘The packaging needs to be plain, and the design has to be simple with very limited colours,’ she said.
New labelling, usage instructions and information leaflets are also required, along with name restrictions.
‘The permitted ingredients have changed, to now only include nicotine, propylene glycol glycerol, and water,’ she said. ‘And the only flavours allowed are mint, menthol or tobacco.’
Vaping devices and accessories must also meet stricter standards for:
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[post_content] => PSA has announced that it will develop and maintain education standards for Continued Professional Development (CPD) for pharmacists, following the retirement of the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) accreditation standards for CPD activities on 31 December 2025.
The APC’s accreditation standards for CPD activities have been in place since 2013.
PSA, who already publish regular CPD through Australian Pharmacist and its education catalogue, will develop and maintain industry leading standards that will certify the quality and independence of CPD.
CPD education assessed against the standards will carry a PSA approval, giving pharmacists confidence that the education they access maintains the highest quality, upholds pharmacy practice standards, guidelines and ethics, and is free from commercial bias.
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS said: ‘As the national peak body for pharmacists in Australia and custodians of pharmacy practice standards, guidelines and ethics, PSA is developing education standards for CPD that give our profession – and our stakeholders – confidence in the quality of pharmacist education.
‘Our members tell us that PSA’s education is of high quality, a quality they can trust, and this scheme will mean that when they see third party education that is approved as meeting the PSA education standards, they can have a similar level of trust in it,’ she said.
‘PSA’s CPD planning tool takes the stress out of planning and recording CPD education, just as these standards will give pharmacists confidence that the CPD they access is “up-to-scratch”.’
PSA’s CPD standards are set to be introduced in 2026.
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[post_content] => For the first time in Australian medicines history, all Queensland-based pharmacists can make the call to substitute a therapeutically appropriate medicine without prescriber authority to solve medicine-related problems.
Australian Pharmacist explains the ins and outs of this momentous change.
What’s changing?
An update to Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021 (Qld) on 1 July 2025 will allow therapeutic adaptation and substitution to take place where there is a theraputic need for change.
Under section 117B of the regulation, a pharmacist dispensing a medicine may substitute an equivalent medicine for the one specified on the prescription – provided this is reasonably necessary for the patient’s therapeutic care.
An equivalent medicine is one that:
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[post_content] => This week pharmacists will see a suite of regulatory and funding changes take effect.
Here are the six key updates pharmacists need to know before tomorrow.
1. Dispensing fees will marginally rise
Under the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement, pharmacists’ dispensing fee – along with the Tier 1 Administration, Handling and Infrastructure fee and the Dangerous Drug fee – will be indexed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) annually on 1 July.
Over the past 12 months to the March 2025 quarter, the CPI increased to 2.4%.
So from tomorrow, there will be a slight jump in the per script dispense fee, which will rise from $8.67 to $8.89.
2. (Dis)continued dispensing as emergency measures roll back
As of tomorrow, temporary emergency measures that expanded the range of medicines available under Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Continued Dispensing arrangements will be repealed.
The emergency authority which authorised these Continued Dispensing arrangements for private and PBS prescriptions in New South Wales, will also end at 11:59 pm tonight.
Only the standard list of 149 PBS-listed molecules will be available under Continued Dispensing in most jurisdictions, covering conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and HIV.
However, Continued Dispensing will continue for some. Just enacted in Queensland, the amount of medicine a pharmacist can supply to a patient as an ‘emergency supply’ is increasing from 3 days’ supply to the smallest available manufacturer’s pack of the medicine. This applies in addition to the supply provisions enabled under the Commonwealth Continued Dispensing Determination. And in Tasmania permanent regulation also allows full Continued Dispensing as private supply for all Prescription Only Medicines.
A full list of what’s happening in your state or territory is available via PSA’s Regulation Hub which will be updated overnight to reflect these changes.
The PSA has long advocated for the full measure to be made permanent across the nation.
‘We’ve seen temporary continued dispensing measures introduced during natural disasters, which is important, but there are several scenarios where a permanent policy would help patients, from personal emergencies to natural disasters,’ said PSA CEO Adjunct Associate Professor Steve Morris.
‘PSA is again urging the federal government to work with state and territory governments to permanently protect emergency access to medicines.’
3. New vaping standards will come into effect
From 1 July, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will implement strengthened standards for all therapeutic nicotine vaping products used for smoking-cessation and nicotine-dependence. This measure is designed to mitigate risks associated with therapeutic vaping products and ensure a consistent level of safety and quality across all products supplied through pharmacies.
Under the new standards, pharmacies will only be permitted to supply vapes that satisfy defined criteria around permitted ingredients, tamper-evident and child-resistant packaging, and clear, consistent labelling.
Pharmacists should refer to the TGA’s notified vape list, which details all therapeutic vaping products approved for smoking cessation and the management of nicotine dependence.
4. Pharmacists now have longer to transition to the new MMR and ACOP credential
Until recently, pharmacists were required to meet the revised credentialing standards by 30 June 2025 – either by obtaining Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) towards their new credential or by undertaking further education to fulfil the updated requirements.
The deadlines to achieve both credentials have now been extended to:
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[post_content] => Endometriosis, affecting approximately one in seven Australian women, remains under-recognised, under-funded and misunderstood.
Despite the profound impact endometriosis has on health and wellbeing, its diagnosis and management is complex – with an average of 6–8 years between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis.
‘This delay is where pharmacists have a crucial role in recognising the symptoms of endometriosis and referring women promptly for diagnosis and treatment,’ said Grace Wong, Medication Safety Pharmacist at The Royal Women's Hospital – who will be leading a session on Championing change for endometriosis care at PSA25 next month.
Why does endometriosis take so long to diagnose?
There are several interrelated factors at play. Historically, a definitive diagnosis of endometriosis required laparoscopic surgery with histopathological confirmation.
But the limited availability of trained gynaecologists to perform these procedures has created a bottleneck in timely diagnosis.
Additionally, the variable and often non-specific nature of endometriosis symptoms – such as chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, dysmenorrhea, cyclical hematuria, dysuria and gastrointestinal disturbances – can lead to misdiagnosis of other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Patients experiencing chronic pelvic or abdominal pain may present repeatedly for symptom relief, with opioids or high-dose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) often supplied without further investigation into the underlying cause. This pattern not only delays appropriate diagnosis but also increases the risk of adverse effects and medicine overuse.
Societal stigmas surrounding menstruation can lead many to normalise menstrual pain, delaying medical attention.
‘Removing stigma and making women feel confident and comfortable to speak to their pharmacist for advice is something pharmacists and pharmacy support staff can continue to improve,’ Wong said.
When should endometriosis be suspected?
Endometriosis should be considered in anyone of reproductive age presenting with persistent pelvic pain – especially when it’s acyclical, unresponsive to first-line treatments, or associated with other gynaecological symptoms such as dyspareunia (painful intercourse) or dysmenorrhoea.
Atypical symptoms of endometriosis include:
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[post_content] => On 1 July 2025, new vaping standards came into force for all therapeutic vaping products for smoking cessation and nicotine dependence.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration's (TGA’s) strengthened standards, designed to reduce harm from vape use, are the culmination of the national vaping reforms, said PSA Project Manager Nikita Dalla Venezia, who worked closely on the PSA’s Professional practice guidelines for pharmacists: nicotine dependence support.
‘Because the changes were fairly substantial, my understanding is that they were staggered,’ she said. ‘This is just the next step of that comprehensive approach to mitigating risk for people who use therapeutic vapes.’
The principal purpose of the reforms is to minimise youth uptake of vaping – an objective that, according to the Cancer Council’s iterative Generation Vape study, appears to be succeeding.
‘In Wave 7 of the study, which came out after the reforms were introduced, over 50% of youths said they would decline a vape if offered one from a friend, which is a substantial increase from Wave 2 data (less than 40%) that was collected prior to the reforms,’ Ms Dalla Venezia said.
What key changes are introduced in the updated standards?
Changes to the packaging, labelling and design of vaping products have been introduced.
Vaping devices and accessories now need to appear as therapeutic products to reduce their appeal for recreational use among both adolescents and adults, Ms Dalla Venezia said.
‘The packaging needs to be plain, and the design has to be simple with very limited colours,’ she said.
New labelling, usage instructions and information leaflets are also required, along with name restrictions.
‘The permitted ingredients have changed, to now only include nicotine, propylene glycol glycerol, and water,’ she said. ‘And the only flavours allowed are mint, menthol or tobacco.’
Vaping devices and accessories must also meet stricter standards for:
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[post_content] => PSA has announced that it will develop and maintain education standards for Continued Professional Development (CPD) for pharmacists, following the retirement of the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) accreditation standards for CPD activities on 31 December 2025.
The APC’s accreditation standards for CPD activities have been in place since 2013.
PSA, who already publish regular CPD through Australian Pharmacist and its education catalogue, will develop and maintain industry leading standards that will certify the quality and independence of CPD.
CPD education assessed against the standards will carry a PSA approval, giving pharmacists confidence that the education they access maintains the highest quality, upholds pharmacy practice standards, guidelines and ethics, and is free from commercial bias.
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS said: ‘As the national peak body for pharmacists in Australia and custodians of pharmacy practice standards, guidelines and ethics, PSA is developing education standards for CPD that give our profession – and our stakeholders – confidence in the quality of pharmacist education.
‘Our members tell us that PSA’s education is of high quality, a quality they can trust, and this scheme will mean that when they see third party education that is approved as meeting the PSA education standards, they can have a similar level of trust in it,’ she said.
‘PSA’s CPD planning tool takes the stress out of planning and recording CPD education, just as these standards will give pharmacists confidence that the CPD they access is “up-to-scratch”.’
PSA’s CPD standards are set to be introduced in 2026.
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[post_content] => For the first time in Australian medicines history, all Queensland-based pharmacists can make the call to substitute a therapeutically appropriate medicine without prescriber authority to solve medicine-related problems.
Australian Pharmacist explains the ins and outs of this momentous change.
What’s changing?
An update to Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021 (Qld) on 1 July 2025 will allow therapeutic adaptation and substitution to take place where there is a theraputic need for change.
Under section 117B of the regulation, a pharmacist dispensing a medicine may substitute an equivalent medicine for the one specified on the prescription – provided this is reasonably necessary for the patient’s therapeutic care.
An equivalent medicine is one that:
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[post_content] => This week pharmacists will see a suite of regulatory and funding changes take effect.
Here are the six key updates pharmacists need to know before tomorrow.
1. Dispensing fees will marginally rise
Under the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement, pharmacists’ dispensing fee – along with the Tier 1 Administration, Handling and Infrastructure fee and the Dangerous Drug fee – will be indexed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) annually on 1 July.
Over the past 12 months to the March 2025 quarter, the CPI increased to 2.4%.
So from tomorrow, there will be a slight jump in the per script dispense fee, which will rise from $8.67 to $8.89.
2. (Dis)continued dispensing as emergency measures roll back
As of tomorrow, temporary emergency measures that expanded the range of medicines available under Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Continued Dispensing arrangements will be repealed.
The emergency authority which authorised these Continued Dispensing arrangements for private and PBS prescriptions in New South Wales, will also end at 11:59 pm tonight.
Only the standard list of 149 PBS-listed molecules will be available under Continued Dispensing in most jurisdictions, covering conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and HIV.
However, Continued Dispensing will continue for some. Just enacted in Queensland, the amount of medicine a pharmacist can supply to a patient as an ‘emergency supply’ is increasing from 3 days’ supply to the smallest available manufacturer’s pack of the medicine. This applies in addition to the supply provisions enabled under the Commonwealth Continued Dispensing Determination. And in Tasmania permanent regulation also allows full Continued Dispensing as private supply for all Prescription Only Medicines.
A full list of what’s happening in your state or territory is available via PSA’s Regulation Hub which will be updated overnight to reflect these changes.
The PSA has long advocated for the full measure to be made permanent across the nation.
‘We’ve seen temporary continued dispensing measures introduced during natural disasters, which is important, but there are several scenarios where a permanent policy would help patients, from personal emergencies to natural disasters,’ said PSA CEO Adjunct Associate Professor Steve Morris.
‘PSA is again urging the federal government to work with state and territory governments to permanently protect emergency access to medicines.’
3. New vaping standards will come into effect
From 1 July, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will implement strengthened standards for all therapeutic nicotine vaping products used for smoking-cessation and nicotine-dependence. This measure is designed to mitigate risks associated with therapeutic vaping products and ensure a consistent level of safety and quality across all products supplied through pharmacies.
Under the new standards, pharmacies will only be permitted to supply vapes that satisfy defined criteria around permitted ingredients, tamper-evident and child-resistant packaging, and clear, consistent labelling.
Pharmacists should refer to the TGA’s notified vape list, which details all therapeutic vaping products approved for smoking cessation and the management of nicotine dependence.
4. Pharmacists now have longer to transition to the new MMR and ACOP credential
Until recently, pharmacists were required to meet the revised credentialing standards by 30 June 2025 – either by obtaining Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) towards their new credential or by undertaking further education to fulfil the updated requirements.
The deadlines to achieve both credentials have now been extended to:
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[post_content] => Endometriosis, affecting approximately one in seven Australian women, remains under-recognised, under-funded and misunderstood.
Despite the profound impact endometriosis has on health and wellbeing, its diagnosis and management is complex – with an average of 6–8 years between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis.
‘This delay is where pharmacists have a crucial role in recognising the symptoms of endometriosis and referring women promptly for diagnosis and treatment,’ said Grace Wong, Medication Safety Pharmacist at The Royal Women's Hospital – who will be leading a session on Championing change for endometriosis care at PSA25 next month.
Why does endometriosis take so long to diagnose?
There are several interrelated factors at play. Historically, a definitive diagnosis of endometriosis required laparoscopic surgery with histopathological confirmation.
But the limited availability of trained gynaecologists to perform these procedures has created a bottleneck in timely diagnosis.
Additionally, the variable and often non-specific nature of endometriosis symptoms – such as chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, dysmenorrhea, cyclical hematuria, dysuria and gastrointestinal disturbances – can lead to misdiagnosis of other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Patients experiencing chronic pelvic or abdominal pain may present repeatedly for symptom relief, with opioids or high-dose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) often supplied without further investigation into the underlying cause. This pattern not only delays appropriate diagnosis but also increases the risk of adverse effects and medicine overuse.
Societal stigmas surrounding menstruation can lead many to normalise menstrual pain, delaying medical attention.
‘Removing stigma and making women feel confident and comfortable to speak to their pharmacist for advice is something pharmacists and pharmacy support staff can continue to improve,’ Wong said.
When should endometriosis be suspected?
Endometriosis should be considered in anyone of reproductive age presenting with persistent pelvic pain – especially when it’s acyclical, unresponsive to first-line treatments, or associated with other gynaecological symptoms such as dyspareunia (painful intercourse) or dysmenorrhoea.
Atypical symptoms of endometriosis include:
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[post_content] => On 1 July 2025, new vaping standards came into force for all therapeutic vaping products for smoking cessation and nicotine dependence.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration's (TGA’s) strengthened standards, designed to reduce harm from vape use, are the culmination of the national vaping reforms, said PSA Project Manager Nikita Dalla Venezia, who worked closely on the PSA’s Professional practice guidelines for pharmacists: nicotine dependence support.
‘Because the changes were fairly substantial, my understanding is that they were staggered,’ she said. ‘This is just the next step of that comprehensive approach to mitigating risk for people who use therapeutic vapes.’
The principal purpose of the reforms is to minimise youth uptake of vaping – an objective that, according to the Cancer Council’s iterative Generation Vape study, appears to be succeeding.
‘In Wave 7 of the study, which came out after the reforms were introduced, over 50% of youths said they would decline a vape if offered one from a friend, which is a substantial increase from Wave 2 data (less than 40%) that was collected prior to the reforms,’ Ms Dalla Venezia said.
What key changes are introduced in the updated standards?
Changes to the packaging, labelling and design of vaping products have been introduced.
Vaping devices and accessories now need to appear as therapeutic products to reduce their appeal for recreational use among both adolescents and adults, Ms Dalla Venezia said.
‘The packaging needs to be plain, and the design has to be simple with very limited colours,’ she said.
New labelling, usage instructions and information leaflets are also required, along with name restrictions.
‘The permitted ingredients have changed, to now only include nicotine, propylene glycol glycerol, and water,’ she said. ‘And the only flavours allowed are mint, menthol or tobacco.’
Vaping devices and accessories must also meet stricter standards for:
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[post_content] => PSA has announced that it will develop and maintain education standards for Continued Professional Development (CPD) for pharmacists, following the retirement of the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) accreditation standards for CPD activities on 31 December 2025.
The APC’s accreditation standards for CPD activities have been in place since 2013.
PSA, who already publish regular CPD through Australian Pharmacist and its education catalogue, will develop and maintain industry leading standards that will certify the quality and independence of CPD.
CPD education assessed against the standards will carry a PSA approval, giving pharmacists confidence that the education they access maintains the highest quality, upholds pharmacy practice standards, guidelines and ethics, and is free from commercial bias.
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS said: ‘As the national peak body for pharmacists in Australia and custodians of pharmacy practice standards, guidelines and ethics, PSA is developing education standards for CPD that give our profession – and our stakeholders – confidence in the quality of pharmacist education.
‘Our members tell us that PSA’s education is of high quality, a quality they can trust, and this scheme will mean that when they see third party education that is approved as meeting the PSA education standards, they can have a similar level of trust in it,’ she said.
‘PSA’s CPD planning tool takes the stress out of planning and recording CPD education, just as these standards will give pharmacists confidence that the CPD they access is “up-to-scratch”.’
PSA’s CPD standards are set to be introduced in 2026.
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[post_content] => For the first time in Australian medicines history, all Queensland-based pharmacists can make the call to substitute a therapeutically appropriate medicine without prescriber authority to solve medicine-related problems.
Australian Pharmacist explains the ins and outs of this momentous change.
What’s changing?
An update to Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021 (Qld) on 1 July 2025 will allow therapeutic adaptation and substitution to take place where there is a theraputic need for change.
Under section 117B of the regulation, a pharmacist dispensing a medicine may substitute an equivalent medicine for the one specified on the prescription – provided this is reasonably necessary for the patient’s therapeutic care.
An equivalent medicine is one that:
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[post_content] => This week pharmacists will see a suite of regulatory and funding changes take effect.
Here are the six key updates pharmacists need to know before tomorrow.
1. Dispensing fees will marginally rise
Under the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement, pharmacists’ dispensing fee – along with the Tier 1 Administration, Handling and Infrastructure fee and the Dangerous Drug fee – will be indexed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) annually on 1 July.
Over the past 12 months to the March 2025 quarter, the CPI increased to 2.4%.
So from tomorrow, there will be a slight jump in the per script dispense fee, which will rise from $8.67 to $8.89.
2. (Dis)continued dispensing as emergency measures roll back
As of tomorrow, temporary emergency measures that expanded the range of medicines available under Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Continued Dispensing arrangements will be repealed.
The emergency authority which authorised these Continued Dispensing arrangements for private and PBS prescriptions in New South Wales, will also end at 11:59 pm tonight.
Only the standard list of 149 PBS-listed molecules will be available under Continued Dispensing in most jurisdictions, covering conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and HIV.
However, Continued Dispensing will continue for some. Just enacted in Queensland, the amount of medicine a pharmacist can supply to a patient as an ‘emergency supply’ is increasing from 3 days’ supply to the smallest available manufacturer’s pack of the medicine. This applies in addition to the supply provisions enabled under the Commonwealth Continued Dispensing Determination. And in Tasmania permanent regulation also allows full Continued Dispensing as private supply for all Prescription Only Medicines.
A full list of what’s happening in your state or territory is available via PSA’s Regulation Hub which will be updated overnight to reflect these changes.
The PSA has long advocated for the full measure to be made permanent across the nation.
‘We’ve seen temporary continued dispensing measures introduced during natural disasters, which is important, but there are several scenarios where a permanent policy would help patients, from personal emergencies to natural disasters,’ said PSA CEO Adjunct Associate Professor Steve Morris.
‘PSA is again urging the federal government to work with state and territory governments to permanently protect emergency access to medicines.’
3. New vaping standards will come into effect
From 1 July, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will implement strengthened standards for all therapeutic nicotine vaping products used for smoking-cessation and nicotine-dependence. This measure is designed to mitigate risks associated with therapeutic vaping products and ensure a consistent level of safety and quality across all products supplied through pharmacies.
Under the new standards, pharmacies will only be permitted to supply vapes that satisfy defined criteria around permitted ingredients, tamper-evident and child-resistant packaging, and clear, consistent labelling.
Pharmacists should refer to the TGA’s notified vape list, which details all therapeutic vaping products approved for smoking cessation and the management of nicotine dependence.
4. Pharmacists now have longer to transition to the new MMR and ACOP credential
Until recently, pharmacists were required to meet the revised credentialing standards by 30 June 2025 – either by obtaining Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) towards their new credential or by undertaking further education to fulfil the updated requirements.
The deadlines to achieve both credentials have now been extended to:
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[post_date] => 2025-07-09 10:22:04
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[post_content] => Endometriosis, affecting approximately one in seven Australian women, remains under-recognised, under-funded and misunderstood.
Despite the profound impact endometriosis has on health and wellbeing, its diagnosis and management is complex – with an average of 6–8 years between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis.
‘This delay is where pharmacists have a crucial role in recognising the symptoms of endometriosis and referring women promptly for diagnosis and treatment,’ said Grace Wong, Medication Safety Pharmacist at The Royal Women's Hospital – who will be leading a session on Championing change for endometriosis care at PSA25 next month.
Why does endometriosis take so long to diagnose?
There are several interrelated factors at play. Historically, a definitive diagnosis of endometriosis required laparoscopic surgery with histopathological confirmation.
But the limited availability of trained gynaecologists to perform these procedures has created a bottleneck in timely diagnosis.
Additionally, the variable and often non-specific nature of endometriosis symptoms – such as chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, dysmenorrhea, cyclical hematuria, dysuria and gastrointestinal disturbances – can lead to misdiagnosis of other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Patients experiencing chronic pelvic or abdominal pain may present repeatedly for symptom relief, with opioids or high-dose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) often supplied without further investigation into the underlying cause. This pattern not only delays appropriate diagnosis but also increases the risk of adverse effects and medicine overuse.
Societal stigmas surrounding menstruation can lead many to normalise menstrual pain, delaying medical attention.
‘Removing stigma and making women feel confident and comfortable to speak to their pharmacist for advice is something pharmacists and pharmacy support staff can continue to improve,’ Wong said.
When should endometriosis be suspected?
Endometriosis should be considered in anyone of reproductive age presenting with persistent pelvic pain – especially when it’s acyclical, unresponsive to first-line treatments, or associated with other gynaecological symptoms such as dyspareunia (painful intercourse) or dysmenorrhoea.
Atypical symptoms of endometriosis include:
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[post_content] => On 1 July 2025, new vaping standards came into force for all therapeutic vaping products for smoking cessation and nicotine dependence.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration's (TGA’s) strengthened standards, designed to reduce harm from vape use, are the culmination of the national vaping reforms, said PSA Project Manager Nikita Dalla Venezia, who worked closely on the PSA’s Professional practice guidelines for pharmacists: nicotine dependence support.
‘Because the changes were fairly substantial, my understanding is that they were staggered,’ she said. ‘This is just the next step of that comprehensive approach to mitigating risk for people who use therapeutic vapes.’
The principal purpose of the reforms is to minimise youth uptake of vaping – an objective that, according to the Cancer Council’s iterative Generation Vape study, appears to be succeeding.
‘In Wave 7 of the study, which came out after the reforms were introduced, over 50% of youths said they would decline a vape if offered one from a friend, which is a substantial increase from Wave 2 data (less than 40%) that was collected prior to the reforms,’ Ms Dalla Venezia said.
What key changes are introduced in the updated standards?
Changes to the packaging, labelling and design of vaping products have been introduced.
Vaping devices and accessories now need to appear as therapeutic products to reduce their appeal for recreational use among both adolescents and adults, Ms Dalla Venezia said.
‘The packaging needs to be plain, and the design has to be simple with very limited colours,’ she said.
New labelling, usage instructions and information leaflets are also required, along with name restrictions.
‘The permitted ingredients have changed, to now only include nicotine, propylene glycol glycerol, and water,’ she said. ‘And the only flavours allowed are mint, menthol or tobacco.’
Vaping devices and accessories must also meet stricter standards for:
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[post_content] => PSA has announced that it will develop and maintain education standards for Continued Professional Development (CPD) for pharmacists, following the retirement of the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) accreditation standards for CPD activities on 31 December 2025.
The APC’s accreditation standards for CPD activities have been in place since 2013.
PSA, who already publish regular CPD through Australian Pharmacist and its education catalogue, will develop and maintain industry leading standards that will certify the quality and independence of CPD.
CPD education assessed against the standards will carry a PSA approval, giving pharmacists confidence that the education they access maintains the highest quality, upholds pharmacy practice standards, guidelines and ethics, and is free from commercial bias.
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS said: ‘As the national peak body for pharmacists in Australia and custodians of pharmacy practice standards, guidelines and ethics, PSA is developing education standards for CPD that give our profession – and our stakeholders – confidence in the quality of pharmacist education.
‘Our members tell us that PSA’s education is of high quality, a quality they can trust, and this scheme will mean that when they see third party education that is approved as meeting the PSA education standards, they can have a similar level of trust in it,’ she said.
‘PSA’s CPD planning tool takes the stress out of planning and recording CPD education, just as these standards will give pharmacists confidence that the CPD they access is “up-to-scratch”.’
PSA’s CPD standards are set to be introduced in 2026.
[post_title] => PSA to develop education standards for CPD activities
[post_excerpt] => With the Australian Pharmacy Council retiring its accreditation standards for CPD activities, PSA is set to step up.
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[post_content] => For the first time in Australian medicines history, all Queensland-based pharmacists can make the call to substitute a therapeutically appropriate medicine without prescriber authority to solve medicine-related problems.
Australian Pharmacist explains the ins and outs of this momentous change.
What’s changing?
An update to Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021 (Qld) on 1 July 2025 will allow therapeutic adaptation and substitution to take place where there is a theraputic need for change.
Under section 117B of the regulation, a pharmacist dispensing a medicine may substitute an equivalent medicine for the one specified on the prescription – provided this is reasonably necessary for the patient’s therapeutic care.
An equivalent medicine is one that:
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[post_content] => This week pharmacists will see a suite of regulatory and funding changes take effect.
Here are the six key updates pharmacists need to know before tomorrow.
1. Dispensing fees will marginally rise
Under the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement, pharmacists’ dispensing fee – along with the Tier 1 Administration, Handling and Infrastructure fee and the Dangerous Drug fee – will be indexed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) annually on 1 July.
Over the past 12 months to the March 2025 quarter, the CPI increased to 2.4%.
So from tomorrow, there will be a slight jump in the per script dispense fee, which will rise from $8.67 to $8.89.
2. (Dis)continued dispensing as emergency measures roll back
As of tomorrow, temporary emergency measures that expanded the range of medicines available under Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Continued Dispensing arrangements will be repealed.
The emergency authority which authorised these Continued Dispensing arrangements for private and PBS prescriptions in New South Wales, will also end at 11:59 pm tonight.
Only the standard list of 149 PBS-listed molecules will be available under Continued Dispensing in most jurisdictions, covering conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and HIV.
However, Continued Dispensing will continue for some. Just enacted in Queensland, the amount of medicine a pharmacist can supply to a patient as an ‘emergency supply’ is increasing from 3 days’ supply to the smallest available manufacturer’s pack of the medicine. This applies in addition to the supply provisions enabled under the Commonwealth Continued Dispensing Determination. And in Tasmania permanent regulation also allows full Continued Dispensing as private supply for all Prescription Only Medicines.
A full list of what’s happening in your state or territory is available via PSA’s Regulation Hub which will be updated overnight to reflect these changes.
The PSA has long advocated for the full measure to be made permanent across the nation.
‘We’ve seen temporary continued dispensing measures introduced during natural disasters, which is important, but there are several scenarios where a permanent policy would help patients, from personal emergencies to natural disasters,’ said PSA CEO Adjunct Associate Professor Steve Morris.
‘PSA is again urging the federal government to work with state and territory governments to permanently protect emergency access to medicines.’
3. New vaping standards will come into effect
From 1 July, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will implement strengthened standards for all therapeutic nicotine vaping products used for smoking-cessation and nicotine-dependence. This measure is designed to mitigate risks associated with therapeutic vaping products and ensure a consistent level of safety and quality across all products supplied through pharmacies.
Under the new standards, pharmacies will only be permitted to supply vapes that satisfy defined criteria around permitted ingredients, tamper-evident and child-resistant packaging, and clear, consistent labelling.
Pharmacists should refer to the TGA’s notified vape list, which details all therapeutic vaping products approved for smoking cessation and the management of nicotine dependence.
4. Pharmacists now have longer to transition to the new MMR and ACOP credential
Until recently, pharmacists were required to meet the revised credentialing standards by 30 June 2025 – either by obtaining Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) towards their new credential or by undertaking further education to fulfil the updated requirements.
The deadlines to achieve both credentials have now been extended to:
CPD credits
Accreditation Code : CAP2506SYPAB
Group 1 : 0.75 CPD credits
Group 2 : 1.5 CPD credits
This activity has been accredited for 0.75 hours of Group 1 CPD (or 0.75 CPD credits) suitable for inclusion in an individual pharmacist's CPD plan, which can be converted to 0.75 hours of Group 2 CPD (or 1.5 CPD credits) upon successful completion of relevant assessment activities.
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Australian Pharmacist is the official journal for Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Ltd.
