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Monday 17 Jul 2017
Today’s issue of PD
Pharmacy Daily today has three pages of news plus a full page from Pharmacy 4 Less.
FDA opioid training In AN effort to reduce the scope of “the epidemic of opioid addiction”, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Scott Gottlieb has announced new training initiatives for pharmacists and other non-physician providers. “The training will continue to be provided by accredited continuing education providers, but we have proposed that the training include broader information on pain management and enhanced information about the safe use of opioid analgesics, basic elements of addiction medicine, and opioid use disorders,” he said in an official statement. Consideration will be given to making the education mandatory to ensure “providers are properly informed about the risks and benefits of these drugs,” he added.
Mental health prescription Improving medication safety in mental health will require a systems approach and involvement of all stakeholders, especially pharmacy services, according to a new report prepared for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care by the University of South Australia. Systems identified for involvement include medication reconciliation services, standardised systems for medication ordering and administration, electronic medication management, patient supply systems, multidisciplinary team care, and collaborative home medicines reviews. Clinical pharmacy services were referenced 172 times in the report, tagged as critical to mental health units and prioritised for early integration with other services in the mental health care setting. The report grew out of consultation with consumers and carers, nurses, pharmacists, psychiatrists, psychologists and
Pharmacy Daily Monday 17th July 2017
policy makers from across Australia. Between three and five medication-related problems are identified per person during pharmacist reviews in the community setting, including adverse reactions, under-use or over-use of medicines, and the need for information or other support services, such as DAAs. In the hospital setting, as in the community, one study found 52% of people indicated there were discrepancies between the medication history documented in their general practitioners’ case notes and what they were taking. The report recommended that to improve accuracy of medications, a “pharmacist-led medication reconciliation service” should be standard, as well as contact with the patient’s own community pharmacy. It also summarised literature supporting the role of pharmacists in management of mental health see safetyandquality.gov.au.
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MA welcomes PBAC appointment Medicines Australia (MA) has said it welcomes the appointment of Michelle Burke (pictured) to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) (PD Fri). “Ms Burke has enormous experience in the sector and has a long history of working with multinational biopharmaceutical companies and contributing to significant policy issues such as PBS reform and industry development. “Ms Burke has three times been the recipient of industry recognition through the prestigious Pat Clear Award, for her contributions to broader industry policy.” MA said the appointment showed the PBAC had a “willingness to engage with the medicines industry and has a deep understanding of the issues impacting on our sector.”
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