Funding pharmacists to play a bigger role in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s healthcare could deliver improved outcomes while saving money, pharmacist Atinuke Abraham from the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, tells our podcast.

In the latest edition of the AJP podcast, our host, Carlene McMaugh, speaks to Abraham, about the opportunities that exist for pharmacists to educate and support Indigenous patients to self-manage conditions, including diabetes.

The topics covered include:

• Improving medication management (2 min 00)
• Optimising the role of pharmacists in diabetes management (2:45)
• Legislation is limiting pharmacists’ scope of practice  (3:29)
• Pharmacists can help educate Indigenous communities that diabetes is preventable (6:40)
• Access to medication remains a problem for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (8:56)
• Pharmacists need to deliver culturally safe care (9:20)
• Inconsistencies in rules around Closing the Gap (CtG) prescriptions (15:45)
• Abraham’s 8CPA wishlist (17:45)
• Pharmacists are limited by not having access to the MBS (23:50)
• Indigenous health providers would hire pharmacists if funding was available (26:13)

Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Pharmacy is a resilient sector, Blake Hedley tells the AJP Podcast’s Carlene McMaugh – with plenty of valuable advice for those worried about the future, and their role within it

Blake Hedley, who works at Hedley Partners with his father Paul – and between the two, they have around 60 years’ worth of advisory experience to pharmacists – talks about the challenges facing pharmacists, particularly young pharmacists, and tips on pharmacy ownership.

Challenges include a lack of supply thanks to caps on licences – “it’s like there’s only 6,500 houses in the whole of Australia!” – and how banks will only lend on valuation, when there may be other factors attracting pharmacists to own a particular store.

“It makes it very hard for younger people,” Hedley says. “It’s definitely a lot easier for the older pharmacists.”

Early career pharmacists are also affected by “downward pressure on their wages” with a fairly large HECS debt, particularly given its indexing; and “limitations in and around ownership opportunities” for those who want to go down that path.

We find out what makes a successful pharmacy owner – and how despite a nervousness about 60-day dispensing, the sector is likely to bounce back.

“Pharmacists used to put millions of dollars putting photo dispensing in their shops,” Hedley says. “Digital cameras came in and all that went away.”

Pharmacy services including vaccination and supply of vapes could help fill income gaps created by 60-day dispensing, Hedley says – just as other offers filled the gaps left by analogue photography.

“There’s always something around the corner for pharmacy.”

1.33 – Challenges for the reality of working in the industry for those who have newly qualified

3.59 – What’s been motivating pharmacists to buy pharmacies lately?

8.07 – Has bank lending criteria changed, with 60-day dispensing and other elements of change?

14.51 – As pharmacists can exclusively own pharmacies, what does that mean for tax and borrowing power?

16.27 – All about buying groups

18.33 – How many pharmacy transactions can happen in a year (and how did Covid change this)?

23.30 – The impacts of 60-day dispensing, and positive changes in its wake

27.04 – Which pharmacy owners fail, and which succeed?

31.54 – All about trading pharmacies

37.33 – Where to start when looking to buy a pharmacy

Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify

“We’re in a messy phase,” as rural pharmacies are overwhelmed by shortages —of staff and medicines—and dealing with uncertainty thanks to the 8CPA “limbo”, says locum 

Echuca pharmacist in charge Shonae Zeman, who’s doing locum work after a year outside pharmacy, talks with the AJP Podcast’s host Carlene McMaugh about the key role of rural and regional pharmacies, and the risk of closure.

Zeman explains how rural pharmacy is adapting to manage the challenge of 60-day dispensing, with discussions of “Things like fee for service…price increases across the shop lines, reducing hours of opening of the pharmacy, reducing staff and also trying to monitor and minimise stock levels,” she says. “I think everyone’s a bit scared to pull the trigger and start increasing their prices.”

It’ll likely ramp up over the next “few waves” of medicines added to the list for 60-day dispensing, she says – and as negotiations for the 8CPA continue.

She’s concerned that pharmacists “don’t really know the narrative” and are left in “limbo” as they don’t know what’s happening – and it could be anything.

“If we do rely on all this government funding, and we get to the point where that is only really what’s keeping us afloat then if it’s pulled at any time, then how are businesses going to cope with that?

“Especially in rural pharmacy – the pharmacist is the main hub of the community, it’s people’s social outing for the day.

“The main concern for me is that pharmacies are going to struggle to stay open and be able to offer those services that we’ve been able to do so far.”

She said the biggest problem for rural communities is retaining staff – so she’s hopeful for incentives such as funding in the 8CPA to attract interns and other pharmacists.

There’s also the issue that “stock shortages are massive” and the time sink this represents – and the doctor shortage – “overwhelming” in Zeman’s words – is forcing pressure back onto pharmacists.

Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Dr Amy Page, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PSA’s) Victorian branch president, talks about the state’s pharmacy pilot and the opportunities it provides pharmacists

In the latest edition of the AJP podcast, our host, Carlene McMaugh, speaks to Page about the expansion of pharmacists’ scope of practice in Victoria and around the country.

The topics covered include:

• PSA’s new travel health training module (1 min 53)
• Preparing pharmacies to ensure they have consultation rooms and relevant facilities for the provision of new services as part of trials (5.15)
• Community awareness of new pharmacy services (6.00)
• Integrating new services into community pharmacy (13.42)
• What happens after the pilot (16.43)
• Workflow models need to evolve to enable pharmacists to provide more clinical services (18.50)
• The need for harmonisation of pharmacists’ scope of practice (24.42)

Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify

“This is how we are going to apply the pressure,” CAPS spokespeople tell the AJP Podcast, explaining why the group has moved away from political rallies and towards influencing elections

CAPS representatives will attend the Dunkley (Victoria) by-election this weekend (2 March) to lobby against a Labor vote in protest against 60-day dispensing – and Victorian pharmacists are “very keen to assist,” says CAPS spokesperson Peppe Raso.

Raso explains why the group’s focus is now away from rallies – despite the “really good response” from the events in Sydney and Canberra in 2023 – and towards an “education opportunity for those who are undecided in that electorate”.

Raso and fellow CAPS spokesperson Christine Kelly tell AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh that this voter influencing campaign is here to stay.

“The Labor government is adamant on making us a third world country at the moment, and that’s not what we’re wanting,” said Kelly.

“This Dunkley by-election is really the first time any health care profession has come together united to show what we can do.

“And this is how we are going to apply the pressure – because this government doesn’t want to listen to us, they don’t want to consult with us, they don’t care if we’re kicking or screaming, but they will care if they lose their set.

“And unfortunately the only way that we’re going to be able to do this is to actually show up with the truth…and make their voters realise that voting for Labor means that health care in Australian will be ruined, broken, torn apart.

“Not only are we going to be at Dunkley, we’re going to be at the Cook (NSW) by-election to show and tell people not to vote for Labor either, and we’re going to be at every by-election, or election – it doesn’t matter whether it’s state or federal.

“We’re going to be there until we get an 8CPA that ensures that community pharmacy stays viable and ensures that we can stay open.”

Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify

A UK pharmacy leader talks about the ‘paradigm shift’ of independent prescribing and what it means for the profession’s future

As the countdown nears for the graduation of the UKs first cohort of students to come out as independent pharmacy prescribers, a leader of the profession joins our podcast to talk about the ‘paradigm shift’ this represents to scope of practice.

Minesh Parbat is currently Chief Pharmacist of an integrated care system in the English midwest. He is also a independent prescribing pharmacist.

He talks to our podcast host, Carlene McMaugh, about the latest developments in UK pharmacy (at 4:30), including the development of independent prescribing and related legislative changes that allowed pharmacists to undergo further training to take on broader scope of practice roles.

Parbat also talks about the related growth of pharmacists working in broader healthcare teams and in additional locations of practice.

Other items under discussion include the growth of digital health and telehealth, and how we build competencies and confidence of the pharmacy workforce in these areas. 

Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Paul Sinclair, the first Australian president of the International Pharmacy Federation (FIP) talks about the future of the profession and the changes he sees impacting pharmacy 

In the latest edition of the AJP podcast, our host, Carlene McMaugh, speaks to FIP president Paul Sinclair about the 

The topics covered include:

• What are some of the important new issues and developments FIP sees as impacting pharmacy practice (3 min 15)
• Challenges to Australian community pharmacy, such as double dispensing (6:15)
• FIPs key objectives for 2024 (9:00)
• His thoughts on become the first-ever Australian to head FIP, and his career with FIP (12:45)
• Some of the changes he sees happening in pharmacy (18:30)
• How pharmacists can become involved with FIP (25:00) 

AJP editor Chris Brooker recently spoke to Paul Sinclair. Go here to see the article 

Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify

A sense that pharmacists would be at least recognised for their hard work during the pandemic and natural disasters was sharply reversed last year, AJP editor Chris Brooker tells our podcast

Brooker talks to Carlene McMaugh about the top stories from last year, including “the unicorn of 2023” – double dispensing – and the way it came as a shock to the profession.

“Most people were incredibly concerned about the impact of 60-day dispensing,” he says, saying that as a result, feedback to the AJP included “a lot more concern than we get most years. Probably even getting to the stage of fear. Fear over the future, fear over job security, fear over financial security and I think, fear over the future of pharmacy in general”.

Also coming to the fore last year were issues of funding, particularly that affecting the livelihood of consultant pharmacists working in aged care.

Brooker says our top two stories both covered specific medicines, and chats about his predictions for 2024, including the importance of the 8CPA and potential consequences of the Chemist Warehouse-Sigma merger.

And he also has some sentiments to share for members of the profession – and an invitation to tell us your stories.

Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify

PSA’s Fei Sim looks back over the events of 2023, which rocked every facet of the profession in Australia

“I really think that when we look back in history, 2023 is a year that I would describe as a ‘monumental year’,” says Dr Fei Sim, national president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

“There have been a lot of conversations about funding, about 60-day dispensing, about anxiety levels for pharmacists – but why I say it’s monumental is because it’s actually more complex than that.

“If we look back, 2023 was really a year where we saw, and we are about to continue to see, fundamental change in the role, in the scope of pharmacists, and the expectations of pharmacists.”

She lists the issues that arose in 2023, from new professional practice standards to changes to opioid dependence therapy, to change for pharmacists working on-site in residential aged care.

“It was probably the only time in the history of pharmacy where we saw significant policy and health system changes, or policy proposals, that affect every single component of our profession.”

Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Steve Morris, PSA CEO, talks about why we need to examine what quality use of medicines actually means, and why and where pharmacists should be playing a greater role

In the latest AJP podcast, Steve Morris, CEO of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia talks to our host, Carlene McMaugh, about quality use of medicines: what it means, why its misunderstood, and what role pharmacists can, and should, play.

Among the topics discussed are:

• The current state of Quality use of medicines in Australia, and the lack of a national overview of the state of play (2:16)
• The low level of health literacy in the community, and steps pharmacists can take to help improve, or overcome this (4:20)
•  Changes to the quality use of medicines landscape, including the revised National Medicines Policy (5:30)  
• The crucial role of pharmacists (6:55)
• The impact of the recent pharmacists in aged care policy announcements (9:15)
• New QUM initiatives where PSA will play a role (11:15)
• Predictions for pharmacy in 2024, and where he sees pharmacies QUM role going in the future (13:15) 

Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify

AJP podcast host speaks to PDL’s Gary West about the key questions pharmacists had over the past year – and forecasts some challenges and opportunities for 2024

Senior professional officer at PDL Gary West says that pharmacists have shown significant interest over 2023 in deferring and declining supply, which he says is partly related to the 60-day dispensing issue.

“We’re experiencing a number of calls from employee pharmacists particularly who are finding it very challenging to decide what their obligations and responsibilities were in regards to assessing a 60 day prescription for its validity,” he says.

There’s also been high interest in incident reporting and professional boundaries. “I think sometimes pharmacists don’t think about that process of documenting incidents or other interactions that could go pear-shaped,” he says.

West encouraged pharmacists to brush up on their obligations in regards to professional boundaries.

“Particularly this time of year, even though it’s important all year round we are seeing an increase, a little bit, in regards to professional boundary complaints, where allegations are being made against pharmacists breaching those expectations – and it’s not just sexual harassment, though that is certainly one of the topics, but things like bullying, discrimination, other activities that are considered to be a breach of boundaries.”

Pharmacists also had to ask questions about the changes to opioid replacement therapy – where the implementation was “a nightmare,” West said, despite the importance of the changes – as well as a range of hiccups with e-prescribing.

PDL is currently helping its members with clarification on Covid vaccines – particularly regarding conflicting advice and the latest jab to hit community pharmacies – and 2023 has also seen growth in inquiries about dispensing medicinal cannabis.

“It’s area where there’s lots of activity,” says West. “The volumes are increasingly significantly, there’s a lot of challenges associated with things like online prescribers, telehealth prescribers, vertical integration between prescribers, suppliers and dispensers, in some cases, and there’s obviously a lot of regulation around it.”

He also has some advice for pharmacists in 2024 and into the future…and how pharmacists can be prepared for the changes, risks and opportunities they are likely to face.

Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify