td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30711
[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-10-12 14:46:12
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-12 03:46:12
[post_content] => Half the country has funded the roll out of the intranasal influenza vaccine in 2026.
With a new formulation of the most-administered vaccine by pharmacists on the horizon, pharmacists need to update their vaccination knowledge.
Why introduce an intranasal vaccine?
Needlephobia is a significant deterrent to childhood vaccination. The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Melbourne's Child Health Poll found that one in four children aged 4 years or more (27%) has an intense fear of needles, often preventing them from being vaccinated.
The intranasal vaccine, FluMist, also has a higher vaccine coverage rate than traditional injectable flu vaccines, said community pharmacist and PSA’s Vaccination Ambassador Anna Theophilos MPS.
‘Data indicates that [it provides] all-year coverage, as opposed to weaning off after a few months,’ Ms Theophilos said.
Who is the vaccine indicated for?
The intranasal influenza vaccine has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for children and adolescents between 2–18 years of age.
‘However, it is assumed [the manufacturer] will keep petitioning for greater expansion of the vaccine,’ Ms Theophilos said.
Which jurisdictions have approved it?
At this stage, three states have provided funding to cover the costs of the vaccine for children aged 2 to under 5 from 2026, including:
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30706
[post_author] => 8451
[post_date] => 2025-10-12 12:46:25
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-12 01:46:25
[post_content] => Pharmacy interventions in asthma management can be difficult because patients often don’t fully understand the underlying nature of the condition. These experts explain how to cut through.
Most people don’t understand what inflammation means, said Lead at the National Asthma Council Australia, Debbie Rigby FPS.
‘I explain that your lungs have a long-term sensitivity or irritability which we need to treat so they’re less reactive to stimuli, whether it’s a viral respiratory infection or exposure to tobacco smoke,’ she said.
‘That underlying tendency in lungs is not treated by SABA alone. So, we need to use something that will maximise your lung function and reduce the irritability of your lungs.’
Helping patients make the behaviour switch
Making sure patients understand the new recommendations on how asthma medicines should be used for optimal health benefits is a critical part of the conversation with patients who come into the pharmacy for an inhaler, Ms Rigby said.
‘I think it’s just going to be a different conversation we have with patients in a community pharmacy setting, because we do have salbutamol available over the counter without a prescription,’ she said.
Switching from over-the-counter medicines to prescription medicines requires a big behaviour shift for patients who have been living with asthma.
Ms Rigby has produced many education webinars on the subject and written widely about how patients can be encouraged to make the switch.
‘It’s using all the behaviour change theories trying to motivate that person to change their behaviour, and that’s partly through education as well as support and just better understanding of the condition they’re living with,’ she said.
It’s important that patients understand asthma as an ongoing chronic inflammatory condition that can be bubbling away and then triggered, Ms Rigby said, and that they understand they can reduce the risk of flare-ups with the appropriate medicine.
‘They can have better control of their asthma so it doesn’t have an impact on their day-to-day activities – whether it’s going to school or work or doing exercise.’
While non-prescription SABA will continue to be sold in pharmacies, pharmacists will now need to initiate conversations with patients living with asthma to ask whether they think SABA is the best treatment for them, and whether there’s a better option, said Professor Nick Zwar, Executive Dean of Bond University’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, and Chair of the Australian Asthma Handbook Guidelines Committee.
‘The answer to that question might often be “yes”, if adolescents and adults are just using SABA,’ he said. ‘There might still be a role for SABA alone in some children.’
It is important for pharmacists to consider how to start a conversation to help people living with asthma understand there is another approach they should consider and to encourage them to see their doctors to discuss the treatment alternatives, he said.
‘These are people who might have been using SABA for some time, and don’t see it as an issue,’ he added.
Prescribing pharmacists step in
In Queensland, prescribing pharmacists are assisting patients living with asthma to manage their conditions, said pharmacist prescriber Demi Pressley MPS, who practises in Cairns.
‘Patients have responded really positively to pharmacist care and management of respiratory conditions,’ she said. ‘Patients have returned to say I changed their life through the treatment provided and the time, care and education I had provided.’
The ability to initiate or change to preventer therapy when a patient comes to the pharmacy to buy salbutamol, or when they report increased salbutamol usage, has shifted the focus and goals of patient interactions, she added.
‘Rather than emphasising the importance of review and seeing their GP, I am able to conduct a comprehensive assessment with the patient and get them onto the most appropriate treatment at the time of their presentation, arrange appropriate follow-up and investigations – all while keeping their regular prescriber updated,’ Ms Pressley said.
When a patient recently arrived at Ms Pressley’s pharmacy requesting a salbutamol inhaler, she recommended they change their treatment for more effective management.
‘Through initial discussion, I was able to find out that they had been using their inhaler 3–4 times daily for the last few weeks, when their usual usage was 1–2 times a month,’ she added.
‘With this information I was able to discuss the chronic conditions management pilot, and the patient was happy to have a comprehensive consultation. During this consultation, I learned the patient suffers seasonal flares during cane season.
‘They usually use Symbicort during this time but couldn’t see their GP for another 3 weeks. I was able to initiate the patient on Symbicort therapy immediately and notify their GP of this.’
Read more about the Australian Asthma Handbook’s updated guidelines in the October 2025 cover story of the Australian Pharmacist journal.
[post_title] => Rethinking pharmacy conversations on asthma care
[post_excerpt] => Pharmacy interventions in asthma management can be difficult because patients often don’t understand the underlying nature of the condition.
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => rethinking-pharmacy-conversations-on-asthma-care
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2025-10-13 16:20:28
[post_modified_gmt] => 2025-10-13 05:20:28
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/?p=30706
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[title_attribute] => Rethinking pharmacy conversations on asthma care
[title] => Rethinking pharmacy conversations on asthma care
[href] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/rethinking-pharmacy-conversations-on-asthma-care/
[module_atts:td_module:private] => Array
(
)
[td_review:protected] => Array
(
)
[is_review:protected] =>
[post_thumb_id:protected] => 30710
[authorType] =>
)
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30674
[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-10-08 13:11:30
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-08 02:11:30
[post_content] => On 1 October 2025, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) scheduled methenamine hippurate as a Pharmacist Only medicine to ensure pharmacist oversight of its use.
Up until last week, methenamine hippurate, sold as Hiprex and Uramet was unscheduled, available as a general sales medicine.
Australian Pharmacist outlines the reasons for the rescheduling of this medicine, and what actions a request for Hiprex should now prompt pharmacists to take.
Why is methenamine now an S3 medicine?
In May 2024, a final decision was made to reschedule methenamine to Pharmacist Only for therapeutic preparations, allowing for pharmacist intervention to ensure safe and appropriate use.
While Pharmacy Only scheduling was considered, it was deemed insufficient to prevent inappropriate use by those who have not been medically assessed.
Methenamine hippurate is generally low risk and provides an alternative to antibiotics for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), addressing the community's need to reduce antibiotic resistance. The TGA delegate also noted that patients diagnosed with recurrent UTI and advised by a healthcare practitioner to use methenamine hippurate are unlikely to self-medicate inappropriately.
But for new and infrequent users, unrestricted access outside of pharmacies poses risks of inappropriate self-diagnosis, use for active UTIs without professional input, and masking of underlying medical conditions.
Pharmacist involvement should help to mitigate these risks by enhancing therapeutic advice and reducing errors or misuse while aligning with international classifications in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand.
What are the issues with unsupervised use?
Methenamine hippurate’s therapeutic efficacy significantly relies on an acidic urinary pH. So co-administration of urinary alkalisers, such as potassium citrate or acetazolamide, can raise urine pH – limiting formaldehyde formation and diminishing efficacy.
Long-term risks of formaldehyde exposure include gastrointestinal effects and skin irritation.
Methenamine hippurate should also be used judiciously in patients with comorbid conditions that can lead to elevated risks, such as:
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30667
[post_author] => 250
[post_date] => 2025-10-08 12:04:41
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-08 01:04:41
[post_content] => Yesterday (Tuesday 7 October), PSA, in a joint event with Consumer Healthcare Products Australia (CHP Australia), showcased the breadth of pharmacists’ skills and roles at Australian Parliament House.
So who were the pharmacists walking in the corridors of power? And what were their messages for Australia’s politicians?
Australian Pharmacist spoke to some of the trailblazers who made the trip to Canberra for the event.
Hannah Knowles MPS – hospital pharmacy
Flying the flag for hospital pharmacy, Hannah Knowles, Advanced Pharmacist in Patient Flow at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, spoke to politicians and delegates about the rapidly evolving role of hospital pharmacists – including leading the Pharmacist Collaborative Medication Prescribing Pilot in her hospital.
[caption id="attachment_30671" align="aligncenter" width="432"]
Hannah Knowles MPS with David Batt MP, Member for Hinkler (Qld)[/caption]
Anna Theophilos MPS – community pharmacy, vaccination
Anna Theophilos, community pharmacist, PSA’s Vaccination Ambassador and owner of TerryWhite Chemmart Surrey Hills South (Melbourne), had one main message for politicians: it’s time to end the jurisdictional vaccine lottery.
[caption id="attachment_30670" align="aligncenter" width="446"]
Anna Theophilos MPS with David Batt MP, Member for Hinkler (Qld)[/caption]
Drawing on 17 years’ experience, Theophilos highlighted the breadth of community pharmacy services she provides, anchored by immunisation.
Using her ‘spin-to-win’ wheel, Anna highlighted the inequity experienced by patients across Australia, with regulations preventing pharmacist immunisers being able to fully support the immunisation needs of the communities they serve.
“I hope they can see it’s common sense that all pharmacists, regardless of where you practice, can vaccinate according to the Australian Immunisation Handbook. All Australians deserve the same access to vaccinations regardless of where they live.
Deborah Hawthorne FPS – consultant pharmacist
Deborah Hawthorne is well known as a rural pharmacist specialising in consultant practice, diabetes education and aged care. She shared with politicians her experiences of visiting people’s homes to provide Home Medicines Reviews and the benefits patients experience from this service.
Reflecting on the event, Ms Hawthorne hoped her passion for Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs) would make an impact.
‘I’m excited about sharing the role of pharmacists providing HMRs across the country. There is so much more we need to do and we need to be supported [by governments] to do it.’
Jaimee Anderson MPS – First Nations health/ diabetes education
Credentialled Diabetes Educator and pharmacist at Wurli Wurlinjang Health, Jaimee Anderson shared the vital work she does supporting the health of First Nations people in Katherine.
The current PSA Pharmacist of the Year hoped the event would show more pharmacists are needed in more practice settings.
‘What I want politicians to take away is that pharmacists affect change at all levels of clinical care and need to be embedded in all levels of service,’ she said.
‘First Nations peoples have a greater burden of chronic disease. Embedding pharmacists in Aboriginal Health Services has been proven to help close that gap.’
Neil Petrie MPS – aged care
Neil Petrie travelled up to Canberra from Melbourne to provide insight into his work at Donwood Community Aged Care as an on-site pharmacist in aged care, solving medicine safety problems to improve quality of life for residents.
Speaking to AP, Neil reflected on how important it is to make sure political leaders learn more about the breadth of work pharmacists do.
‘Pharmacists have a lot of different roles, not just dispensing of medicines. Today was a great opportunity to showcase all the diversity of pharmacists' roles for medicine safety in our community.’
Nod from a pharmacist MP
Speaking at the event, the Hon. Emma McBride MP FPS reflected on the rapid evolution of the pharmacist profession in the past decade, seeing a range of new team-based pharmacist roles in primary care being created to drive medicine safety.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (@pharmaceuticalsocietyau)
She also paid tribute to the pharmacists in the room for their work and acknowledged all pharmacists and pharmacy assistants providing care to Australians across the nation.
[post_title] => Pharmacists’ skills showcased at Parliament House
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => pharmacists-skills-showcased-at-parliament-house
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2025-10-08 15:35:20
[post_modified_gmt] => 2025-10-08 04:35:20
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/?p=30667
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[title_attribute] => Pharmacists’ skills showcased at Parliament House
[title] => Pharmacists’ skills showcased at Parliament House
[href] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/pharmacists-skills-showcased-at-parliament-house/
[module_atts:td_module:private] => Array
(
)
[td_review:protected] => Array
(
)
[is_review:protected] =>
[post_thumb_id:protected] => 30669
[authorType] =>
)
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30630
[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-10-03 14:40:26
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-03 04:40:26
[post_content] => Last year, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) made an interim decision to reschedule this formulation of dihydrocodeine (Rikodeine) to a prescription medicine. Why hasn’t it happened yet?
On 26 July 2024, the interim decision on dihydrocodeine was published, which was made in response to concerns about the potential for misuse, abuse, and dependence associated with the opioid derivative.
The TGA Delegate's interim decision was to amend the Pharmacist Only entry for dihydrocodeine to restrict undivided oral liquid preparations to a maximum primary pack size of 100 mL from 1 October 2025.
So, what happened?
What were the reasons for the interim decision?
The interim decision to amend the Schedule 3 entry for dihydrocodeine was made to balance the potential risks of dihydrocodeine, including respiratory depression, addiction potential and severe adverse effects, against the need for timely patient access to dry cough medicines.
The amendment would also align Australia’s regulations more closely with other jurisdictions such as the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Where is the final decision?
Australian Pharmacist understands that the final decision on the scheduling of dihydrocodeine is yet to be published, despite the implementation date flagged in the interim decision having come and gone last week.
It is highly unusual for an interim decision not to have been followed by a final decision within the usual decision-making timeframe – and to see the proposed implementation date pass without any formal notice.
What’s the reason behind the hold up?
In August 2024, the TGA sought public submissions on the interim decision on dihydrocodeine.
It was reported in September 2024 that, of the 7 submissions received, two were in partial support while five were in opposition of the interim decision.
The TGA noted that final decisions on dihydrocodeine had been deferred while the submissions received from the consultation were further considered.
What should pharmacists do in the meantime?
For now, the scheduling of dihydrocodeine remains unchanged. PSA has reached out to the TGA for confirmation on the final scheduling decision.
Pharmacists report they continue to experience frequent queries for dihydrocodeine from patients, many of whom don’t appear to have symptoms of dry cough.
If diversion, misuse or abuse is suspected, pharmacists should ask the patient further questions to establish the patient’s:
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30711
[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-10-12 14:46:12
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-12 03:46:12
[post_content] => Half the country has funded the roll out of the intranasal influenza vaccine in 2026.
With a new formulation of the most-administered vaccine by pharmacists on the horizon, pharmacists need to update their vaccination knowledge.
Why introduce an intranasal vaccine?
Needlephobia is a significant deterrent to childhood vaccination. The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Melbourne's Child Health Poll found that one in four children aged 4 years or more (27%) has an intense fear of needles, often preventing them from being vaccinated.
The intranasal vaccine, FluMist, also has a higher vaccine coverage rate than traditional injectable flu vaccines, said community pharmacist and PSA’s Vaccination Ambassador Anna Theophilos MPS.
‘Data indicates that [it provides] all-year coverage, as opposed to weaning off after a few months,’ Ms Theophilos said.
Who is the vaccine indicated for?
The intranasal influenza vaccine has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for children and adolescents between 2–18 years of age.
‘However, it is assumed [the manufacturer] will keep petitioning for greater expansion of the vaccine,’ Ms Theophilos said.
Which jurisdictions have approved it?
At this stage, three states have provided funding to cover the costs of the vaccine for children aged 2 to under 5 from 2026, including:
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30706
[post_author] => 8451
[post_date] => 2025-10-12 12:46:25
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-12 01:46:25
[post_content] => Pharmacy interventions in asthma management can be difficult because patients often don’t fully understand the underlying nature of the condition. These experts explain how to cut through.
Most people don’t understand what inflammation means, said Lead at the National Asthma Council Australia, Debbie Rigby FPS.
‘I explain that your lungs have a long-term sensitivity or irritability which we need to treat so they’re less reactive to stimuli, whether it’s a viral respiratory infection or exposure to tobacco smoke,’ she said.
‘That underlying tendency in lungs is not treated by SABA alone. So, we need to use something that will maximise your lung function and reduce the irritability of your lungs.’
Helping patients make the behaviour switch
Making sure patients understand the new recommendations on how asthma medicines should be used for optimal health benefits is a critical part of the conversation with patients who come into the pharmacy for an inhaler, Ms Rigby said.
‘I think it’s just going to be a different conversation we have with patients in a community pharmacy setting, because we do have salbutamol available over the counter without a prescription,’ she said.
Switching from over-the-counter medicines to prescription medicines requires a big behaviour shift for patients who have been living with asthma.
Ms Rigby has produced many education webinars on the subject and written widely about how patients can be encouraged to make the switch.
‘It’s using all the behaviour change theories trying to motivate that person to change their behaviour, and that’s partly through education as well as support and just better understanding of the condition they’re living with,’ she said.
It’s important that patients understand asthma as an ongoing chronic inflammatory condition that can be bubbling away and then triggered, Ms Rigby said, and that they understand they can reduce the risk of flare-ups with the appropriate medicine.
‘They can have better control of their asthma so it doesn’t have an impact on their day-to-day activities – whether it’s going to school or work or doing exercise.’
While non-prescription SABA will continue to be sold in pharmacies, pharmacists will now need to initiate conversations with patients living with asthma to ask whether they think SABA is the best treatment for them, and whether there’s a better option, said Professor Nick Zwar, Executive Dean of Bond University’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, and Chair of the Australian Asthma Handbook Guidelines Committee.
‘The answer to that question might often be “yes”, if adolescents and adults are just using SABA,’ he said. ‘There might still be a role for SABA alone in some children.’
It is important for pharmacists to consider how to start a conversation to help people living with asthma understand there is another approach they should consider and to encourage them to see their doctors to discuss the treatment alternatives, he said.
‘These are people who might have been using SABA for some time, and don’t see it as an issue,’ he added.
Prescribing pharmacists step in
In Queensland, prescribing pharmacists are assisting patients living with asthma to manage their conditions, said pharmacist prescriber Demi Pressley MPS, who practises in Cairns.
‘Patients have responded really positively to pharmacist care and management of respiratory conditions,’ she said. ‘Patients have returned to say I changed their life through the treatment provided and the time, care and education I had provided.’
The ability to initiate or change to preventer therapy when a patient comes to the pharmacy to buy salbutamol, or when they report increased salbutamol usage, has shifted the focus and goals of patient interactions, she added.
‘Rather than emphasising the importance of review and seeing their GP, I am able to conduct a comprehensive assessment with the patient and get them onto the most appropriate treatment at the time of their presentation, arrange appropriate follow-up and investigations – all while keeping their regular prescriber updated,’ Ms Pressley said.
When a patient recently arrived at Ms Pressley’s pharmacy requesting a salbutamol inhaler, she recommended they change their treatment for more effective management.
‘Through initial discussion, I was able to find out that they had been using their inhaler 3–4 times daily for the last few weeks, when their usual usage was 1–2 times a month,’ she added.
‘With this information I was able to discuss the chronic conditions management pilot, and the patient was happy to have a comprehensive consultation. During this consultation, I learned the patient suffers seasonal flares during cane season.
‘They usually use Symbicort during this time but couldn’t see their GP for another 3 weeks. I was able to initiate the patient on Symbicort therapy immediately and notify their GP of this.’
Read more about the Australian Asthma Handbook’s updated guidelines in the October 2025 cover story of the Australian Pharmacist journal.
[post_title] => Rethinking pharmacy conversations on asthma care
[post_excerpt] => Pharmacy interventions in asthma management can be difficult because patients often don’t understand the underlying nature of the condition.
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => rethinking-pharmacy-conversations-on-asthma-care
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2025-10-13 16:20:28
[post_modified_gmt] => 2025-10-13 05:20:28
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/?p=30706
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[title_attribute] => Rethinking pharmacy conversations on asthma care
[title] => Rethinking pharmacy conversations on asthma care
[href] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/rethinking-pharmacy-conversations-on-asthma-care/
[module_atts:td_module:private] => Array
(
)
[td_review:protected] => Array
(
)
[is_review:protected] =>
[post_thumb_id:protected] => 30710
[authorType] =>
)
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30674
[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-10-08 13:11:30
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-08 02:11:30
[post_content] => On 1 October 2025, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) scheduled methenamine hippurate as a Pharmacist Only medicine to ensure pharmacist oversight of its use.
Up until last week, methenamine hippurate, sold as Hiprex and Uramet was unscheduled, available as a general sales medicine.
Australian Pharmacist outlines the reasons for the rescheduling of this medicine, and what actions a request for Hiprex should now prompt pharmacists to take.
Why is methenamine now an S3 medicine?
In May 2024, a final decision was made to reschedule methenamine to Pharmacist Only for therapeutic preparations, allowing for pharmacist intervention to ensure safe and appropriate use.
While Pharmacy Only scheduling was considered, it was deemed insufficient to prevent inappropriate use by those who have not been medically assessed.
Methenamine hippurate is generally low risk and provides an alternative to antibiotics for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), addressing the community's need to reduce antibiotic resistance. The TGA delegate also noted that patients diagnosed with recurrent UTI and advised by a healthcare practitioner to use methenamine hippurate are unlikely to self-medicate inappropriately.
But for new and infrequent users, unrestricted access outside of pharmacies poses risks of inappropriate self-diagnosis, use for active UTIs without professional input, and masking of underlying medical conditions.
Pharmacist involvement should help to mitigate these risks by enhancing therapeutic advice and reducing errors or misuse while aligning with international classifications in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand.
What are the issues with unsupervised use?
Methenamine hippurate’s therapeutic efficacy significantly relies on an acidic urinary pH. So co-administration of urinary alkalisers, such as potassium citrate or acetazolamide, can raise urine pH – limiting formaldehyde formation and diminishing efficacy.
Long-term risks of formaldehyde exposure include gastrointestinal effects and skin irritation.
Methenamine hippurate should also be used judiciously in patients with comorbid conditions that can lead to elevated risks, such as:
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30667
[post_author] => 250
[post_date] => 2025-10-08 12:04:41
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-08 01:04:41
[post_content] => Yesterday (Tuesday 7 October), PSA, in a joint event with Consumer Healthcare Products Australia (CHP Australia), showcased the breadth of pharmacists’ skills and roles at Australian Parliament House.
So who were the pharmacists walking in the corridors of power? And what were their messages for Australia’s politicians?
Australian Pharmacist spoke to some of the trailblazers who made the trip to Canberra for the event.
Hannah Knowles MPS – hospital pharmacy
Flying the flag for hospital pharmacy, Hannah Knowles, Advanced Pharmacist in Patient Flow at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, spoke to politicians and delegates about the rapidly evolving role of hospital pharmacists – including leading the Pharmacist Collaborative Medication Prescribing Pilot in her hospital.
[caption id="attachment_30671" align="aligncenter" width="432"] Hannah Knowles MPS with David Batt MP, Member for Hinkler (Qld)[/caption]
Anna Theophilos MPS – community pharmacy, vaccination
Anna Theophilos, community pharmacist, PSA’s Vaccination Ambassador and owner of TerryWhite Chemmart Surrey Hills South (Melbourne), had one main message for politicians: it’s time to end the jurisdictional vaccine lottery.
[caption id="attachment_30670" align="aligncenter" width="446"] Anna Theophilos MPS with David Batt MP, Member for Hinkler (Qld)[/caption]
Drawing on 17 years’ experience, Theophilos highlighted the breadth of community pharmacy services she provides, anchored by immunisation.
Using her ‘spin-to-win’ wheel, Anna highlighted the inequity experienced by patients across Australia, with regulations preventing pharmacist immunisers being able to fully support the immunisation needs of the communities they serve.
“I hope they can see it’s common sense that all pharmacists, regardless of where you practice, can vaccinate according to the Australian Immunisation Handbook. All Australians deserve the same access to vaccinations regardless of where they live.
Deborah Hawthorne FPS – consultant pharmacist
Deborah Hawthorne is well known as a rural pharmacist specialising in consultant practice, diabetes education and aged care. She shared with politicians her experiences of visiting people’s homes to provide Home Medicines Reviews and the benefits patients experience from this service.
Reflecting on the event, Ms Hawthorne hoped her passion for Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs) would make an impact.
‘I’m excited about sharing the role of pharmacists providing HMRs across the country. There is so much more we need to do and we need to be supported [by governments] to do it.’
Jaimee Anderson MPS – First Nations health/ diabetes education
Credentialled Diabetes Educator and pharmacist at Wurli Wurlinjang Health, Jaimee Anderson shared the vital work she does supporting the health of First Nations people in Katherine.
The current PSA Pharmacist of the Year hoped the event would show more pharmacists are needed in more practice settings.
‘What I want politicians to take away is that pharmacists affect change at all levels of clinical care and need to be embedded in all levels of service,’ she said.
‘First Nations peoples have a greater burden of chronic disease. Embedding pharmacists in Aboriginal Health Services has been proven to help close that gap.’
Neil Petrie MPS – aged care
Neil Petrie travelled up to Canberra from Melbourne to provide insight into his work at Donwood Community Aged Care as an on-site pharmacist in aged care, solving medicine safety problems to improve quality of life for residents.
Speaking to AP, Neil reflected on how important it is to make sure political leaders learn more about the breadth of work pharmacists do.
‘Pharmacists have a lot of different roles, not just dispensing of medicines. Today was a great opportunity to showcase all the diversity of pharmacists' roles for medicine safety in our community.’
Nod from a pharmacist MP
Speaking at the event, the Hon. Emma McBride MP FPS reflected on the rapid evolution of the pharmacist profession in the past decade, seeing a range of new team-based pharmacist roles in primary care being created to drive medicine safety.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (@pharmaceuticalsocietyau)
She also paid tribute to the pharmacists in the room for their work and acknowledged all pharmacists and pharmacy assistants providing care to Australians across the nation.
[post_title] => Pharmacists’ skills showcased at Parliament House
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => pharmacists-skills-showcased-at-parliament-house
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2025-10-08 15:35:20
[post_modified_gmt] => 2025-10-08 04:35:20
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/?p=30667
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[title_attribute] => Pharmacists’ skills showcased at Parliament House
[title] => Pharmacists’ skills showcased at Parliament House
[href] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/pharmacists-skills-showcased-at-parliament-house/
[module_atts:td_module:private] => Array
(
)
[td_review:protected] => Array
(
)
[is_review:protected] =>
[post_thumb_id:protected] => 30669
[authorType] =>
)
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30630
[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-10-03 14:40:26
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-03 04:40:26
[post_content] => Last year, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) made an interim decision to reschedule this formulation of dihydrocodeine (Rikodeine) to a prescription medicine. Why hasn’t it happened yet?
On 26 July 2024, the interim decision on dihydrocodeine was published, which was made in response to concerns about the potential for misuse, abuse, and dependence associated with the opioid derivative.
The TGA Delegate's interim decision was to amend the Pharmacist Only entry for dihydrocodeine to restrict undivided oral liquid preparations to a maximum primary pack size of 100 mL from 1 October 2025.
So, what happened?
What were the reasons for the interim decision?
The interim decision to amend the Schedule 3 entry for dihydrocodeine was made to balance the potential risks of dihydrocodeine, including respiratory depression, addiction potential and severe adverse effects, against the need for timely patient access to dry cough medicines.
The amendment would also align Australia’s regulations more closely with other jurisdictions such as the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Where is the final decision?
Australian Pharmacist understands that the final decision on the scheduling of dihydrocodeine is yet to be published, despite the implementation date flagged in the interim decision having come and gone last week.
It is highly unusual for an interim decision not to have been followed by a final decision within the usual decision-making timeframe – and to see the proposed implementation date pass without any formal notice.
What’s the reason behind the hold up?
In August 2024, the TGA sought public submissions on the interim decision on dihydrocodeine.
It was reported in September 2024 that, of the 7 submissions received, two were in partial support while five were in opposition of the interim decision.
The TGA noted that final decisions on dihydrocodeine had been deferred while the submissions received from the consultation were further considered.
What should pharmacists do in the meantime?
For now, the scheduling of dihydrocodeine remains unchanged. PSA has reached out to the TGA for confirmation on the final scheduling decision.
Pharmacists report they continue to experience frequent queries for dihydrocodeine from patients, many of whom don’t appear to have symptoms of dry cough.
If diversion, misuse or abuse is suspected, pharmacists should ask the patient further questions to establish the patient’s:
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30711
[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-10-12 14:46:12
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-12 03:46:12
[post_content] => Half the country has funded the roll out of the intranasal influenza vaccine in 2026.
With a new formulation of the most-administered vaccine by pharmacists on the horizon, pharmacists need to update their vaccination knowledge.
Why introduce an intranasal vaccine?
Needlephobia is a significant deterrent to childhood vaccination. The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Melbourne's Child Health Poll found that one in four children aged 4 years or more (27%) has an intense fear of needles, often preventing them from being vaccinated.
The intranasal vaccine, FluMist, also has a higher vaccine coverage rate than traditional injectable flu vaccines, said community pharmacist and PSA’s Vaccination Ambassador Anna Theophilos MPS.
‘Data indicates that [it provides] all-year coverage, as opposed to weaning off after a few months,’ Ms Theophilos said.
Who is the vaccine indicated for?
The intranasal influenza vaccine has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for children and adolescents between 2–18 years of age.
‘However, it is assumed [the manufacturer] will keep petitioning for greater expansion of the vaccine,’ Ms Theophilos said.
Which jurisdictions have approved it?
At this stage, three states have provided funding to cover the costs of the vaccine for children aged 2 to under 5 from 2026, including:
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30706
[post_author] => 8451
[post_date] => 2025-10-12 12:46:25
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-12 01:46:25
[post_content] => Pharmacy interventions in asthma management can be difficult because patients often don’t fully understand the underlying nature of the condition. These experts explain how to cut through.
Most people don’t understand what inflammation means, said Lead at the National Asthma Council Australia, Debbie Rigby FPS.
‘I explain that your lungs have a long-term sensitivity or irritability which we need to treat so they’re less reactive to stimuli, whether it’s a viral respiratory infection or exposure to tobacco smoke,’ she said.
‘That underlying tendency in lungs is not treated by SABA alone. So, we need to use something that will maximise your lung function and reduce the irritability of your lungs.’
Helping patients make the behaviour switch
Making sure patients understand the new recommendations on how asthma medicines should be used for optimal health benefits is a critical part of the conversation with patients who come into the pharmacy for an inhaler, Ms Rigby said.
‘I think it’s just going to be a different conversation we have with patients in a community pharmacy setting, because we do have salbutamol available over the counter without a prescription,’ she said.
Switching from over-the-counter medicines to prescription medicines requires a big behaviour shift for patients who have been living with asthma.
Ms Rigby has produced many education webinars on the subject and written widely about how patients can be encouraged to make the switch.
‘It’s using all the behaviour change theories trying to motivate that person to change their behaviour, and that’s partly through education as well as support and just better understanding of the condition they’re living with,’ she said.
It’s important that patients understand asthma as an ongoing chronic inflammatory condition that can be bubbling away and then triggered, Ms Rigby said, and that they understand they can reduce the risk of flare-ups with the appropriate medicine.
‘They can have better control of their asthma so it doesn’t have an impact on their day-to-day activities – whether it’s going to school or work or doing exercise.’
While non-prescription SABA will continue to be sold in pharmacies, pharmacists will now need to initiate conversations with patients living with asthma to ask whether they think SABA is the best treatment for them, and whether there’s a better option, said Professor Nick Zwar, Executive Dean of Bond University’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, and Chair of the Australian Asthma Handbook Guidelines Committee.
‘The answer to that question might often be “yes”, if adolescents and adults are just using SABA,’ he said. ‘There might still be a role for SABA alone in some children.’
It is important for pharmacists to consider how to start a conversation to help people living with asthma understand there is another approach they should consider and to encourage them to see their doctors to discuss the treatment alternatives, he said.
‘These are people who might have been using SABA for some time, and don’t see it as an issue,’ he added.
Prescribing pharmacists step in
In Queensland, prescribing pharmacists are assisting patients living with asthma to manage their conditions, said pharmacist prescriber Demi Pressley MPS, who practises in Cairns.
‘Patients have responded really positively to pharmacist care and management of respiratory conditions,’ she said. ‘Patients have returned to say I changed their life through the treatment provided and the time, care and education I had provided.’
The ability to initiate or change to preventer therapy when a patient comes to the pharmacy to buy salbutamol, or when they report increased salbutamol usage, has shifted the focus and goals of patient interactions, she added.
‘Rather than emphasising the importance of review and seeing their GP, I am able to conduct a comprehensive assessment with the patient and get them onto the most appropriate treatment at the time of their presentation, arrange appropriate follow-up and investigations – all while keeping their regular prescriber updated,’ Ms Pressley said.
When a patient recently arrived at Ms Pressley’s pharmacy requesting a salbutamol inhaler, she recommended they change their treatment for more effective management.
‘Through initial discussion, I was able to find out that they had been using their inhaler 3–4 times daily for the last few weeks, when their usual usage was 1–2 times a month,’ she added.
‘With this information I was able to discuss the chronic conditions management pilot, and the patient was happy to have a comprehensive consultation. During this consultation, I learned the patient suffers seasonal flares during cane season.
‘They usually use Symbicort during this time but couldn’t see their GP for another 3 weeks. I was able to initiate the patient on Symbicort therapy immediately and notify their GP of this.’
Read more about the Australian Asthma Handbook’s updated guidelines in the October 2025 cover story of the Australian Pharmacist journal.
[post_title] => Rethinking pharmacy conversations on asthma care
[post_excerpt] => Pharmacy interventions in asthma management can be difficult because patients often don’t understand the underlying nature of the condition.
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => rethinking-pharmacy-conversations-on-asthma-care
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2025-10-13 16:20:28
[post_modified_gmt] => 2025-10-13 05:20:28
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/?p=30706
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[title_attribute] => Rethinking pharmacy conversations on asthma care
[title] => Rethinking pharmacy conversations on asthma care
[href] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/rethinking-pharmacy-conversations-on-asthma-care/
[module_atts:td_module:private] => Array
(
)
[td_review:protected] => Array
(
)
[is_review:protected] =>
[post_thumb_id:protected] => 30710
[authorType] =>
)
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30674
[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-10-08 13:11:30
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-08 02:11:30
[post_content] => On 1 October 2025, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) scheduled methenamine hippurate as a Pharmacist Only medicine to ensure pharmacist oversight of its use.
Up until last week, methenamine hippurate, sold as Hiprex and Uramet was unscheduled, available as a general sales medicine.
Australian Pharmacist outlines the reasons for the rescheduling of this medicine, and what actions a request for Hiprex should now prompt pharmacists to take.
Why is methenamine now an S3 medicine?
In May 2024, a final decision was made to reschedule methenamine to Pharmacist Only for therapeutic preparations, allowing for pharmacist intervention to ensure safe and appropriate use.
While Pharmacy Only scheduling was considered, it was deemed insufficient to prevent inappropriate use by those who have not been medically assessed.
Methenamine hippurate is generally low risk and provides an alternative to antibiotics for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), addressing the community's need to reduce antibiotic resistance. The TGA delegate also noted that patients diagnosed with recurrent UTI and advised by a healthcare practitioner to use methenamine hippurate are unlikely to self-medicate inappropriately.
But for new and infrequent users, unrestricted access outside of pharmacies poses risks of inappropriate self-diagnosis, use for active UTIs without professional input, and masking of underlying medical conditions.
Pharmacist involvement should help to mitigate these risks by enhancing therapeutic advice and reducing errors or misuse while aligning with international classifications in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand.
What are the issues with unsupervised use?
Methenamine hippurate’s therapeutic efficacy significantly relies on an acidic urinary pH. So co-administration of urinary alkalisers, such as potassium citrate or acetazolamide, can raise urine pH – limiting formaldehyde formation and diminishing efficacy.
Long-term risks of formaldehyde exposure include gastrointestinal effects and skin irritation.
Methenamine hippurate should also be used judiciously in patients with comorbid conditions that can lead to elevated risks, such as:
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30667
[post_author] => 250
[post_date] => 2025-10-08 12:04:41
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-08 01:04:41
[post_content] => Yesterday (Tuesday 7 October), PSA, in a joint event with Consumer Healthcare Products Australia (CHP Australia), showcased the breadth of pharmacists’ skills and roles at Australian Parliament House.
So who were the pharmacists walking in the corridors of power? And what were their messages for Australia’s politicians?
Australian Pharmacist spoke to some of the trailblazers who made the trip to Canberra for the event.
Hannah Knowles MPS – hospital pharmacy
Flying the flag for hospital pharmacy, Hannah Knowles, Advanced Pharmacist in Patient Flow at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, spoke to politicians and delegates about the rapidly evolving role of hospital pharmacists – including leading the Pharmacist Collaborative Medication Prescribing Pilot in her hospital.
[caption id="attachment_30671" align="aligncenter" width="432"] Hannah Knowles MPS with David Batt MP, Member for Hinkler (Qld)[/caption]
Anna Theophilos MPS – community pharmacy, vaccination
Anna Theophilos, community pharmacist, PSA’s Vaccination Ambassador and owner of TerryWhite Chemmart Surrey Hills South (Melbourne), had one main message for politicians: it’s time to end the jurisdictional vaccine lottery.
[caption id="attachment_30670" align="aligncenter" width="446"] Anna Theophilos MPS with David Batt MP, Member for Hinkler (Qld)[/caption]
Drawing on 17 years’ experience, Theophilos highlighted the breadth of community pharmacy services she provides, anchored by immunisation.
Using her ‘spin-to-win’ wheel, Anna highlighted the inequity experienced by patients across Australia, with regulations preventing pharmacist immunisers being able to fully support the immunisation needs of the communities they serve.
“I hope they can see it’s common sense that all pharmacists, regardless of where you practice, can vaccinate according to the Australian Immunisation Handbook. All Australians deserve the same access to vaccinations regardless of where they live.
Deborah Hawthorne FPS – consultant pharmacist
Deborah Hawthorne is well known as a rural pharmacist specialising in consultant practice, diabetes education and aged care. She shared with politicians her experiences of visiting people’s homes to provide Home Medicines Reviews and the benefits patients experience from this service.
Reflecting on the event, Ms Hawthorne hoped her passion for Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs) would make an impact.
‘I’m excited about sharing the role of pharmacists providing HMRs across the country. There is so much more we need to do and we need to be supported [by governments] to do it.’
Jaimee Anderson MPS – First Nations health/ diabetes education
Credentialled Diabetes Educator and pharmacist at Wurli Wurlinjang Health, Jaimee Anderson shared the vital work she does supporting the health of First Nations people in Katherine.
The current PSA Pharmacist of the Year hoped the event would show more pharmacists are needed in more practice settings.
‘What I want politicians to take away is that pharmacists affect change at all levels of clinical care and need to be embedded in all levels of service,’ she said.
‘First Nations peoples have a greater burden of chronic disease. Embedding pharmacists in Aboriginal Health Services has been proven to help close that gap.’
Neil Petrie MPS – aged care
Neil Petrie travelled up to Canberra from Melbourne to provide insight into his work at Donwood Community Aged Care as an on-site pharmacist in aged care, solving medicine safety problems to improve quality of life for residents.
Speaking to AP, Neil reflected on how important it is to make sure political leaders learn more about the breadth of work pharmacists do.
‘Pharmacists have a lot of different roles, not just dispensing of medicines. Today was a great opportunity to showcase all the diversity of pharmacists' roles for medicine safety in our community.’
Nod from a pharmacist MP
Speaking at the event, the Hon. Emma McBride MP FPS reflected on the rapid evolution of the pharmacist profession in the past decade, seeing a range of new team-based pharmacist roles in primary care being created to drive medicine safety.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (@pharmaceuticalsocietyau)
She also paid tribute to the pharmacists in the room for their work and acknowledged all pharmacists and pharmacy assistants providing care to Australians across the nation.
[post_title] => Pharmacists’ skills showcased at Parliament House
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => pharmacists-skills-showcased-at-parliament-house
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2025-10-08 15:35:20
[post_modified_gmt] => 2025-10-08 04:35:20
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/?p=30667
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[title_attribute] => Pharmacists’ skills showcased at Parliament House
[title] => Pharmacists’ skills showcased at Parliament House
[href] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/pharmacists-skills-showcased-at-parliament-house/
[module_atts:td_module:private] => Array
(
)
[td_review:protected] => Array
(
)
[is_review:protected] =>
[post_thumb_id:protected] => 30669
[authorType] =>
)
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30630
[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-10-03 14:40:26
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-03 04:40:26
[post_content] => Last year, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) made an interim decision to reschedule this formulation of dihydrocodeine (Rikodeine) to a prescription medicine. Why hasn’t it happened yet?
On 26 July 2024, the interim decision on dihydrocodeine was published, which was made in response to concerns about the potential for misuse, abuse, and dependence associated with the opioid derivative.
The TGA Delegate's interim decision was to amend the Pharmacist Only entry for dihydrocodeine to restrict undivided oral liquid preparations to a maximum primary pack size of 100 mL from 1 October 2025.
So, what happened?
What were the reasons for the interim decision?
The interim decision to amend the Schedule 3 entry for dihydrocodeine was made to balance the potential risks of dihydrocodeine, including respiratory depression, addiction potential and severe adverse effects, against the need for timely patient access to dry cough medicines.
The amendment would also align Australia’s regulations more closely with other jurisdictions such as the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Where is the final decision?
Australian Pharmacist understands that the final decision on the scheduling of dihydrocodeine is yet to be published, despite the implementation date flagged in the interim decision having come and gone last week.
It is highly unusual for an interim decision not to have been followed by a final decision within the usual decision-making timeframe – and to see the proposed implementation date pass without any formal notice.
What’s the reason behind the hold up?
In August 2024, the TGA sought public submissions on the interim decision on dihydrocodeine.
It was reported in September 2024 that, of the 7 submissions received, two were in partial support while five were in opposition of the interim decision.
The TGA noted that final decisions on dihydrocodeine had been deferred while the submissions received from the consultation were further considered.
What should pharmacists do in the meantime?
For now, the scheduling of dihydrocodeine remains unchanged. PSA has reached out to the TGA for confirmation on the final scheduling decision.
Pharmacists report they continue to experience frequent queries for dihydrocodeine from patients, many of whom don’t appear to have symptoms of dry cough.
If diversion, misuse or abuse is suspected, pharmacists should ask the patient further questions to establish the patient’s:
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30711
[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-10-12 14:46:12
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-12 03:46:12
[post_content] => Half the country has funded the roll out of the intranasal influenza vaccine in 2026.
With a new formulation of the most-administered vaccine by pharmacists on the horizon, pharmacists need to update their vaccination knowledge.
Why introduce an intranasal vaccine?
Needlephobia is a significant deterrent to childhood vaccination. The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Melbourne's Child Health Poll found that one in four children aged 4 years or more (27%) has an intense fear of needles, often preventing them from being vaccinated.
The intranasal vaccine, FluMist, also has a higher vaccine coverage rate than traditional injectable flu vaccines, said community pharmacist and PSA’s Vaccination Ambassador Anna Theophilos MPS.
‘Data indicates that [it provides] all-year coverage, as opposed to weaning off after a few months,’ Ms Theophilos said.
Who is the vaccine indicated for?
The intranasal influenza vaccine has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for children and adolescents between 2–18 years of age.
‘However, it is assumed [the manufacturer] will keep petitioning for greater expansion of the vaccine,’ Ms Theophilos said.
Which jurisdictions have approved it?
At this stage, three states have provided funding to cover the costs of the vaccine for children aged 2 to under 5 from 2026, including:
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30706
[post_author] => 8451
[post_date] => 2025-10-12 12:46:25
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-12 01:46:25
[post_content] => Pharmacy interventions in asthma management can be difficult because patients often don’t fully understand the underlying nature of the condition. These experts explain how to cut through.
Most people don’t understand what inflammation means, said Lead at the National Asthma Council Australia, Debbie Rigby FPS.
‘I explain that your lungs have a long-term sensitivity or irritability which we need to treat so they’re less reactive to stimuli, whether it’s a viral respiratory infection or exposure to tobacco smoke,’ she said.
‘That underlying tendency in lungs is not treated by SABA alone. So, we need to use something that will maximise your lung function and reduce the irritability of your lungs.’
Helping patients make the behaviour switch
Making sure patients understand the new recommendations on how asthma medicines should be used for optimal health benefits is a critical part of the conversation with patients who come into the pharmacy for an inhaler, Ms Rigby said.
‘I think it’s just going to be a different conversation we have with patients in a community pharmacy setting, because we do have salbutamol available over the counter without a prescription,’ she said.
Switching from over-the-counter medicines to prescription medicines requires a big behaviour shift for patients who have been living with asthma.
Ms Rigby has produced many education webinars on the subject and written widely about how patients can be encouraged to make the switch.
‘It’s using all the behaviour change theories trying to motivate that person to change their behaviour, and that’s partly through education as well as support and just better understanding of the condition they’re living with,’ she said.
It’s important that patients understand asthma as an ongoing chronic inflammatory condition that can be bubbling away and then triggered, Ms Rigby said, and that they understand they can reduce the risk of flare-ups with the appropriate medicine.
‘They can have better control of their asthma so it doesn’t have an impact on their day-to-day activities – whether it’s going to school or work or doing exercise.’
While non-prescription SABA will continue to be sold in pharmacies, pharmacists will now need to initiate conversations with patients living with asthma to ask whether they think SABA is the best treatment for them, and whether there’s a better option, said Professor Nick Zwar, Executive Dean of Bond University’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, and Chair of the Australian Asthma Handbook Guidelines Committee.
‘The answer to that question might often be “yes”, if adolescents and adults are just using SABA,’ he said. ‘There might still be a role for SABA alone in some children.’
It is important for pharmacists to consider how to start a conversation to help people living with asthma understand there is another approach they should consider and to encourage them to see their doctors to discuss the treatment alternatives, he said.
‘These are people who might have been using SABA for some time, and don’t see it as an issue,’ he added.
Prescribing pharmacists step in
In Queensland, prescribing pharmacists are assisting patients living with asthma to manage their conditions, said pharmacist prescriber Demi Pressley MPS, who practises in Cairns.
‘Patients have responded really positively to pharmacist care and management of respiratory conditions,’ she said. ‘Patients have returned to say I changed their life through the treatment provided and the time, care and education I had provided.’
The ability to initiate or change to preventer therapy when a patient comes to the pharmacy to buy salbutamol, or when they report increased salbutamol usage, has shifted the focus and goals of patient interactions, she added.
‘Rather than emphasising the importance of review and seeing their GP, I am able to conduct a comprehensive assessment with the patient and get them onto the most appropriate treatment at the time of their presentation, arrange appropriate follow-up and investigations – all while keeping their regular prescriber updated,’ Ms Pressley said.
When a patient recently arrived at Ms Pressley’s pharmacy requesting a salbutamol inhaler, she recommended they change their treatment for more effective management.
‘Through initial discussion, I was able to find out that they had been using their inhaler 3–4 times daily for the last few weeks, when their usual usage was 1–2 times a month,’ she added.
‘With this information I was able to discuss the chronic conditions management pilot, and the patient was happy to have a comprehensive consultation. During this consultation, I learned the patient suffers seasonal flares during cane season.
‘They usually use Symbicort during this time but couldn’t see their GP for another 3 weeks. I was able to initiate the patient on Symbicort therapy immediately and notify their GP of this.’
Read more about the Australian Asthma Handbook’s updated guidelines in the October 2025 cover story of the Australian Pharmacist journal.
[post_title] => Rethinking pharmacy conversations on asthma care
[post_excerpt] => Pharmacy interventions in asthma management can be difficult because patients often don’t understand the underlying nature of the condition.
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => rethinking-pharmacy-conversations-on-asthma-care
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2025-10-13 16:20:28
[post_modified_gmt] => 2025-10-13 05:20:28
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/?p=30706
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[title_attribute] => Rethinking pharmacy conversations on asthma care
[title] => Rethinking pharmacy conversations on asthma care
[href] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/rethinking-pharmacy-conversations-on-asthma-care/
[module_atts:td_module:private] => Array
(
)
[td_review:protected] => Array
(
)
[is_review:protected] =>
[post_thumb_id:protected] => 30710
[authorType] =>
)
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30674
[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-10-08 13:11:30
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-08 02:11:30
[post_content] => On 1 October 2025, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) scheduled methenamine hippurate as a Pharmacist Only medicine to ensure pharmacist oversight of its use.
Up until last week, methenamine hippurate, sold as Hiprex and Uramet was unscheduled, available as a general sales medicine.
Australian Pharmacist outlines the reasons for the rescheduling of this medicine, and what actions a request for Hiprex should now prompt pharmacists to take.
Why is methenamine now an S3 medicine?
In May 2024, a final decision was made to reschedule methenamine to Pharmacist Only for therapeutic preparations, allowing for pharmacist intervention to ensure safe and appropriate use.
While Pharmacy Only scheduling was considered, it was deemed insufficient to prevent inappropriate use by those who have not been medically assessed.
Methenamine hippurate is generally low risk and provides an alternative to antibiotics for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), addressing the community's need to reduce antibiotic resistance. The TGA delegate also noted that patients diagnosed with recurrent UTI and advised by a healthcare practitioner to use methenamine hippurate are unlikely to self-medicate inappropriately.
But for new and infrequent users, unrestricted access outside of pharmacies poses risks of inappropriate self-diagnosis, use for active UTIs without professional input, and masking of underlying medical conditions.
Pharmacist involvement should help to mitigate these risks by enhancing therapeutic advice and reducing errors or misuse while aligning with international classifications in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand.
What are the issues with unsupervised use?
Methenamine hippurate’s therapeutic efficacy significantly relies on an acidic urinary pH. So co-administration of urinary alkalisers, such as potassium citrate or acetazolamide, can raise urine pH – limiting formaldehyde formation and diminishing efficacy.
Long-term risks of formaldehyde exposure include gastrointestinal effects and skin irritation.
Methenamine hippurate should also be used judiciously in patients with comorbid conditions that can lead to elevated risks, such as:
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30667
[post_author] => 250
[post_date] => 2025-10-08 12:04:41
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-08 01:04:41
[post_content] => Yesterday (Tuesday 7 October), PSA, in a joint event with Consumer Healthcare Products Australia (CHP Australia), showcased the breadth of pharmacists’ skills and roles at Australian Parliament House.
So who were the pharmacists walking in the corridors of power? And what were their messages for Australia’s politicians?
Australian Pharmacist spoke to some of the trailblazers who made the trip to Canberra for the event.
Hannah Knowles MPS – hospital pharmacy
Flying the flag for hospital pharmacy, Hannah Knowles, Advanced Pharmacist in Patient Flow at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, spoke to politicians and delegates about the rapidly evolving role of hospital pharmacists – including leading the Pharmacist Collaborative Medication Prescribing Pilot in her hospital.
[caption id="attachment_30671" align="aligncenter" width="432"] Hannah Knowles MPS with David Batt MP, Member for Hinkler (Qld)[/caption]
Anna Theophilos MPS – community pharmacy, vaccination
Anna Theophilos, community pharmacist, PSA’s Vaccination Ambassador and owner of TerryWhite Chemmart Surrey Hills South (Melbourne), had one main message for politicians: it’s time to end the jurisdictional vaccine lottery.
[caption id="attachment_30670" align="aligncenter" width="446"] Anna Theophilos MPS with David Batt MP, Member for Hinkler (Qld)[/caption]
Drawing on 17 years’ experience, Theophilos highlighted the breadth of community pharmacy services she provides, anchored by immunisation.
Using her ‘spin-to-win’ wheel, Anna highlighted the inequity experienced by patients across Australia, with regulations preventing pharmacist immunisers being able to fully support the immunisation needs of the communities they serve.
“I hope they can see it’s common sense that all pharmacists, regardless of where you practice, can vaccinate according to the Australian Immunisation Handbook. All Australians deserve the same access to vaccinations regardless of where they live.
Deborah Hawthorne FPS – consultant pharmacist
Deborah Hawthorne is well known as a rural pharmacist specialising in consultant practice, diabetes education and aged care. She shared with politicians her experiences of visiting people’s homes to provide Home Medicines Reviews and the benefits patients experience from this service.
Reflecting on the event, Ms Hawthorne hoped her passion for Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs) would make an impact.
‘I’m excited about sharing the role of pharmacists providing HMRs across the country. There is so much more we need to do and we need to be supported [by governments] to do it.’
Jaimee Anderson MPS – First Nations health/ diabetes education
Credentialled Diabetes Educator and pharmacist at Wurli Wurlinjang Health, Jaimee Anderson shared the vital work she does supporting the health of First Nations people in Katherine.
The current PSA Pharmacist of the Year hoped the event would show more pharmacists are needed in more practice settings.
‘What I want politicians to take away is that pharmacists affect change at all levels of clinical care and need to be embedded in all levels of service,’ she said.
‘First Nations peoples have a greater burden of chronic disease. Embedding pharmacists in Aboriginal Health Services has been proven to help close that gap.’
Neil Petrie MPS – aged care
Neil Petrie travelled up to Canberra from Melbourne to provide insight into his work at Donwood Community Aged Care as an on-site pharmacist in aged care, solving medicine safety problems to improve quality of life for residents.
Speaking to AP, Neil reflected on how important it is to make sure political leaders learn more about the breadth of work pharmacists do.
‘Pharmacists have a lot of different roles, not just dispensing of medicines. Today was a great opportunity to showcase all the diversity of pharmacists' roles for medicine safety in our community.’
Nod from a pharmacist MP
Speaking at the event, the Hon. Emma McBride MP FPS reflected on the rapid evolution of the pharmacist profession in the past decade, seeing a range of new team-based pharmacist roles in primary care being created to drive medicine safety.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (@pharmaceuticalsocietyau)
She also paid tribute to the pharmacists in the room for their work and acknowledged all pharmacists and pharmacy assistants providing care to Australians across the nation.
[post_title] => Pharmacists’ skills showcased at Parliament House
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => pharmacists-skills-showcased-at-parliament-house
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2025-10-08 15:35:20
[post_modified_gmt] => 2025-10-08 04:35:20
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/?p=30667
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[title_attribute] => Pharmacists’ skills showcased at Parliament House
[title] => Pharmacists’ skills showcased at Parliament House
[href] => https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/pharmacists-skills-showcased-at-parliament-house/
[module_atts:td_module:private] => Array
(
)
[td_review:protected] => Array
(
)
[is_review:protected] =>
[post_thumb_id:protected] => 30669
[authorType] =>
)
td_module_mega_menu Object
(
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 30630
[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-10-03 14:40:26
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-03 04:40:26
[post_content] => Last year, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) made an interim decision to reschedule this formulation of dihydrocodeine (Rikodeine) to a prescription medicine. Why hasn’t it happened yet?
On 26 July 2024, the interim decision on dihydrocodeine was published, which was made in response to concerns about the potential for misuse, abuse, and dependence associated with the opioid derivative.
The TGA Delegate's interim decision was to amend the Pharmacist Only entry for dihydrocodeine to restrict undivided oral liquid preparations to a maximum primary pack size of 100 mL from 1 October 2025.
So, what happened?
What were the reasons for the interim decision?
The interim decision to amend the Schedule 3 entry for dihydrocodeine was made to balance the potential risks of dihydrocodeine, including respiratory depression, addiction potential and severe adverse effects, against the need for timely patient access to dry cough medicines.
The amendment would also align Australia’s regulations more closely with other jurisdictions such as the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Where is the final decision?
Australian Pharmacist understands that the final decision on the scheduling of dihydrocodeine is yet to be published, despite the implementation date flagged in the interim decision having come and gone last week.
It is highly unusual for an interim decision not to have been followed by a final decision within the usual decision-making timeframe – and to see the proposed implementation date pass without any formal notice.
What’s the reason behind the hold up?
In August 2024, the TGA sought public submissions on the interim decision on dihydrocodeine.
It was reported in September 2024 that, of the 7 submissions received, two were in partial support while five were in opposition of the interim decision.
The TGA noted that final decisions on dihydrocodeine had been deferred while the submissions received from the consultation were further considered.
What should pharmacists do in the meantime?
For now, the scheduling of dihydrocodeine remains unchanged. PSA has reached out to the TGA for confirmation on the final scheduling decision.
Pharmacists report they continue to experience frequent queries for dihydrocodeine from patients, many of whom don’t appear to have symptoms of dry cough.
If diversion, misuse or abuse is suspected, pharmacists should ask the patient further questions to establish the patient’s:
CPD credits
Accreditation Code : CAP2311OTCJB
Group 1 : 0.5 CPD credits
Group 2 : 1 CPD credits
This activity has been accredited for 0.5 hours of Group 1 CPD (or 0.5 CPD credits) suitable for inclusion in an individual pharmacist's CPD plan, which can be converted to 0.5 hours of Group 2 CPD (or 1 CPD credits) upon successful completion of relevant assessment activities.
Get your weekly dose of the news and research you need to help advance your practice.
Protected by Google reCAPTCHA v3.
Australian Pharmacist is the official journal for Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Ltd.
