Wednesday 04 Jan 2017 www.pharmacydaily.com.au
Spinraza approval The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Spinraza (nusineren), the first drug approved to treat children and adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) - a rare and often fatal genetic disease. Spinraza is administered as a lumbar injection - see fda.gov.
Repat list correction The Health Department has announced a correction to one of its listings in the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule 01 Jan 2017. The listing for “clotrimazole 1% vaginal cream, 20g” is incorrectly described in the schedule. The correct description omits the word “vaginal” as the cream descriptor, as in the previous listing for this item in the 01 Dec 2016 schedule which reads “clotrimazole 1% cream, 20g”. The PBS said the error will be amended as soon as possible. MEANWHILE the PBS has updated its website with a long list of changes including pricing disclosure details, fees, patient contributions, Safety Net thresholds and PBS listings for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as well as an updated FAQ section and details from earlier in Dec 16 - CLICK HERE.
The timing of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will see the Pharmacy Guild’s Australian Pharmacy Professional (APP) conference rescheduled to May next year, because the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre will be used as the Media Centre for the Games which take place 04-18 Apr 2018. Traditionally APP is held in Mar, but the Games is forcing a one-off switch to May, with the Guild given first access to the facility once it is handed back by the Games Organising Committee. APP2018 will therefore take place 03-06 May 2018, with conference chairman Kos Sclavos urging the industry to save the date now.
TH SA E VE D This year’s APPATE
conference takes place 09-12 Mar 2017 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre - for more details or to register see appconference.com.
New QUM standard
NDSS indexation The co-payments for products available under the National Diabetes Services Scheme were increased in line with the Consumer Price Index on 01 Jan 2017, with the changes impacting blood glucose test strips, urine test strips and insulin pump consumables. The NDSS website contains the updated costings - ndss.com.au.
The Australian Pharmacy Council UK pharmacy cuts (APC) has flagged upcoming court hearings consultations on a proposed accreditation standard for quality Britain’s High Court has given use of medicines and prescribing permission for a judicial review of which would cover all 14 health the UK government’s wide-ranging professions regulated in Australia. cuts to pharmacy funding. The project aims to ensure that The case will be brought by graduates from any health degree the Pharmaceutical Services in Australia “have understanding Negotiating Committee, which and competence in the quality use announced last month it was of medicines, for the best health planning legal action on the outcomes in our communities”. basis that the Secretary of State Outlined in a new year’s had “failed to carry out a lawful St Ives lawsuit communication from the APC, the consultation” on the proposals, www.appconference.com initiative will be undertaken in which have been strongly opposed TWO US women are suing facebook.com/APPConference twitter.com/APPConfAus conjunction with other members by pharmacy stakeholders (PD 16 Unilever, the manufacturer behind of the Health Professions Mar 2016, PD 07 Sep 2016). St Ives Apricot Scrub, for US$5m. Accreditation Councils’ Forum. The hearing is planned for the The ladies from New York Other APC activities flagged for second week of Feb. and California are claiming the 2017 include ongoing collaboration Another legal battle over the product has not passed tests by with the Accreditation Systems cuts is also under way, with Ian dermatologists, despite proclaiming Review of the National Registration Strachan, chair of the UK National so on the tube. and Accreditation Scheme, and Pharmacy Association also They also claim the product, relocation of APC operations to a confirming the “formal launch which they say has caused them new purpose-built ACT Majura Park of High Court proceedings” over serious skin irritation, would never office adjacent to the Australian claims the 12% funding reductions be endorsed by any skin care Medical Council and Australian will disproportionately affect the professionals. Nursing and Midwifery Council. elderly, disabled and minorities. In their legal papers the women quote dermatologists who have criticised the facial scrub project, referring to an article in New York Magazine which purported it This week Pharmacy Daily and Aveeno are giving away each day created ‘micro-tears’ in the skin, Daily Moisturising Lotion and Dermexa Moisturising Cream. making the skin more vulnerable to Aveeno Dermexa Moisturising Cream is environmental damages, pollution, specifically formulated to soothe and hydrate and sun damage. even the most sensitive skin, and is clinically Unilever has put out an official proven suitable for eczema prone skin. Aveeno statement saying that “for over 30 Daily Moisturising Lotion contains Active Naturals years, consumers have loved and Colloidal Oatmeal, which is a specially milled, trusted the St. Ives brand to refresh finely ground oat formula that allows the lotion and revitalize their skin.” to lock in moisture while replenishing the skin’s The company said it was own moisture levels. “proud to be America’s top facial To win, be the first from QLD to send the correct answer to the scrub brand and stand by our dermatologist tested formula”. question to comp@pharmacydaily.com.au St Ives products are widely How long does Aveeno Dermexa moisturise for? stocked in Australia, with Priceline Congratulations to yesterday’s winner, Amanda Ferguson from the Complementary and Chemist Warehouse among Healthcare Council of Australia. major groups which carry the brand.
Pharmacy Daily Wednesday 4th January 2017
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Y. 8 ye alt t w a h ill r be
A PROGRAM to help local communities tackle the impact of ice through 220 community-based local action teams across Australia over the next four years has been announced by the Minister for Health Sussan Ley as part of the National Ice Action Strategy. Local councils, schools, police, youth services, primary health and treatment services, community groups and non-government organisations would be eligible to be members of a Local Drug Action Team, she said. Funding of $19.2 million has been provided to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation to administer the teams, with applications closing 08 Feb - CLICK HERE for details.
APP2018 to be held in May
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Ice action teams call for applications
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