Pharmacists are relieved the long-running shortage of heart medication metoprolol succinate is over, but are concerned the same thing might happen again if Pharmac does not make changes to its processes.
The current Community Pharmacy Services Agreement (CPSA) will be extended for another 12 months with a few changes, the Pharmacy Contract Group has proposed.
Changing pharmacy ownership regulations may make it harder for pharmacists to deliver the integrated health services called for by the Government, the Pharmaceutical Society says.
The group who will work out the terms of this year's Community Pharmacy Services Agreement has finally been announced and already held its first meetings.
The results of the latest Pharmacy Quality Audits are out and, at first glance, compliance appears to be worsening but the regulator says the change is due to new auditing criteria rather than slipping standards.
Changes are coming to the Community Pharmacy Services Agreement, but it's not clear whether next year's new contract will be very different from the current model.
The authorities are urging pharmacists to report any health stores or other businesses illegally selling pharmacy-only medicines, in the wake of a widespread scandal uncovered by Pharmacy Today.
