December 2017

Natural products industry leaders are disappointed by the sudden withdrawal of the Natural Health and Supplementary Products Bill from Parliament’s order paper.

The 17th year of the third millennium was an exciting one for Kiwi pharmacists.

The Huntly West Pharmacy team robed up as mad scientists to promote throat swabbing for rheumatic fever this Halloween.

A teacup ride, merry-go-round and stilt-walking clown were among the carnival attractions at Douglas Pharmaceuticals 50th birthday celebrations held in west Auckland on 11 November.

A typical Kiwi summer involves barbeques on the deck, fish and chips on the beach, and endless games of backyard cricket. It’s a relaxing time of year – filled with sun, sand, surf and swimming.

But for pharmacists and other health professionals, summer can be one of the busiest and most demanding times of the year.

Kiwi pharmacists are continuing to do their part in an internationally recognised effort to detect atrial fibrillation.

Until recently, a diagnosis of hepatitis C left patients looking at a bleak future of possible liver failure or cancer if they didn’t make serious lifestyle changes or receive a liver transplant

Pharmacists and their governing bodies are optimistic the new health minister David Clark will resolve some of the challenges facing the sector, such as ownership deregulation and drug margins.

With summer looming, pharmacists in Auckland and other population centres are poised for the slump in sales that comes as all their customers head to the beach, but pharmacist HeeSung Lee isn’t dejected.