Blog
Old Man Rant #1 (yes sorry there will be more than one)
Whilst not the best English Scholar (just scraped through Lang’ and Lit’ O’levels) I seem to be getting increasingly grumpy about current trends with language. Years ago trends and fashions we dictated by music, whether it was Mods and Rockers in the ‘60s or punks the...
Preventing Fake Medicines Entering the Supply Chain
In the developing countries, poor healthcare infrastructure and a high demand for medicines has led to a proliferation of criminal gangs specialising in the counterfeiting of drugs. In the UK there have been several incidents of falsified medicines entering the NHS...
The ongoing role of pharmacy
As the government and community pharmacy industry now have a “letter of intent” in regards to the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement it is time for the other health professions to take their shot. Whilst we are continually hearing the pressure that doctors, nurses...
Pharma Reputation
Bayer is the most recent winner of the reputation stakes according to a survey conducted by The Reputation Institute. The German company has maintained its position at the top for the fourth year in a row. Roche, Abbot, Lilly and GSK in that order followed Bayer....
24/7 Pharmacies
The Victorian State Government in Australia has committed $28.7m over the next four years to fund the establishment and running of 20 super pharmacies. The pharmacies will operate 7 days a week 24 hours a day and will employ a nurse to be on hand from 6pm to 10pm for...
Pain Relief and Pharmacy
Where do you go when you need pain relief medication? What is your initial thought? An interesting survey conducted in 2014 by Roy Morgan Research found that 48% of Australian consumers used pharmacies as the most common point of purchase followed by supermarkets at...
Revoked or Suspended Licence?
You have just been informed by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) that they will be suspending your Wholesale Dealers Authorisation (WDA). You are in a panic as you realise you have to cease all trading immediately. Other implications...
Distance Selling Pharmacies: Providing Enhanced and Advanced Services
One question we get asked time and time again with regard to Distance Selling Pharmacies is can you provide Enhanced and Advanced services from the premises? The answer is yes! But……. Although distance-selling pharmacies may provide advanced and/or enhanced services...
Customers?
‘Who is our customer?’ sounds like a silly question. Someone walks into my pharmacy presenting a prescription, it’s obvious isn’t it? Well yes and no, if the prescription is for that person then they certainly are a customer, but if the person is the patient’s...
Get in right first time!
Despite the exception from the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) for new Distance Selling Pharmacy contracts, the application process is a tricky one and unless every detail is thought through you could be opening yourself up to representations being made against...
Are you wholesaling in the USA?
So how do you do your bona fides checks on new customers and new suppliers? Do you know where your medicines are being exported to or ending up and what responsibilities do you have? News this week of the FDA sending marshalls into a pharmaceuticals company and...
The move towards automation in Australia
As pharmacies grow and become starter and integrate technology into the dispensing process, robotics pharmacies like Willach will continue to grow. Statistics released this week from Willach show that they are on track to have 800 systems installed in Australia by...