Electronic scripts errors

It has been found that computerised prescription systems used by pharmacists were causing errors and leading to inconsistent information, according to a new study carried out in the United States.

Forced sell of Pharmacy Direct

Coles was forced to sell Pharmacy Direct its cut-price pharmacy chain, which was bought for $48 million in 2006 with annual sales turnover of $35 million. RX Direct Pty Ltd, a company owned by the pharmacist members of the Terry White Chemists Advisory Board, had bought Pharmacy Direct from now.com.au Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Wesfarmers, which owns Coles. The business, changed hands for less than $15 million. Pharmacy Direct, a mostly online chemist that Coles bought two years ago, was not owned by a pharmacist, hence it breached the Pharmacy Act. National president of Pharmacy Guild of Australia Kos Sclavos has been opposing Coles's ownership since 2006 and had been fighting it in court until he won.

PBS drugs price cuts

THE Health dept has announced that several PBS drugs will be subject to price reductions on 01 Aug 2009, due to the first round of the new disclosure regime. The system, introduced as part of the PBS Reform package, gives the govt total transparency in PBS pricing, allowing it to achieve savings on behalf of taxpayers. Reductions, based on data collected from manufacturers during during 2008, will apply to the following medications:
- doxorubicin (down 63.54%)
- meloxicam (-22.46%)
- mitozantrone (-34.42%
- ondansetron (-15.37%)
The Pharmacy Guild welcomed the price cuts, with president Kos Sclavos saying it’s conservatively estimated the move will save the govt $13m a year in PBS outlays. However no reduction will apply to six other drugs subjected to price disclosure: amisulpride, fluconazole, fosinopril sodium.