Pharmacy Defence Limited (PDL) has announced the winners of the 2024 PDL Student Grants. The Winners were Yannee Liu (Vic), Aaron Stockwell (WA) and Riko Ngo (Vic). PDL Director for WA and committee member, Celia Sansom, said, “In witnessing the calibre of applications, it was inspiring to see students from all over Australia applying, highlighting the impact of the grant program. Our sincere congratulations to Yannee, Aaron and Riko, who stood out for their considered applications and involvement in the profession.” The grant program was established to help Australian pharmacy students broade ..read more

Despite establishing Australia’s first national wellbeing framework and increasing expenditure on health and aged care, the Government’s spending reflects little investment in a sustainable health system for the future says the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association following the release of the federal government’s budget. This year’s federal budget increases spending on health and aged care by $9.7 billion compared with the May 2023-24 budget. It indicates that total health and aged care spending over the next four years will be $628 billion, an increase of $37 billion from the May 2 ..read more

The Society for Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) have welcomed the Federal Government’s Budget saying it is a win for improved access to medicines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people leaving hospitals as well as a boost to medicines affordability and access to healthcare. ‘On behalf of our members, we welcome the $137.3 million announced tonight to improve medicines access and aged care services for First Nations people, including $11.1 million to expand the Closing the Gap PBS Co-payment Program. ‘SHPA has long campaigned for improving care for First Nations people by ext ..read more

The NSW Government has announced from June 1 all pharmacists with suitable facilities and the required training will be able to provide consultations and prescriptions for UTIs. This follows the success of the state-wide community pharmacy trial that more than one thousand pharmacies participated in and has helped more than 16,000 women in the year the trial has taken place. Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “The NSW Government is committed to taking pressure off GPs and primary care services and we are constantly evaluating ways we can deliver healthcare more efficiently as well as safely ..read more

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the Albanese Government’s 2024-25 federal budget, making healthcare more accessible to Australians through cost-of-living relief and expanded pharmacy programs. Australians will have access to cheaper medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, with a freeze on indexation for at least one year ensuring that the cost of medicines does not rise with the cost of living. On top of this, all PBS medicines dispensed by a community pharmacy, hospital, or approved prescriber will now be covered by the Closing the Gap PBS co-payment, making ..read more

A new online support tool aiming to guide people through the psychological impact of their advanced/metastatic breast cancer diagnosis has now entered the testing phase, with those living with the disease invited to take part and trial the free program. Developed by researchers at Flinders University with support from Breast Cancer Network Australia and Cancer Council SA, Finding My Way – Advanced is designed to support people through stage 4, also known as advanced metastatic breast cancer, which is a treatable but currently incurable form of the disease. Program developer and clinical psycho ..read more

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the 2024-25 Western Australia Budget delivered by Treasurer the Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA yesterday, with a record $3.2 billion investment in health and mental health across the state. Importantly, the Budget also allocated $8 million for free flu vaccines in May and June 2025 for all Western Australians aged six months and older. PSA Western Australia President Kristian Ray MPS said that the budget measure provides certainty for the state’s pharmacists. “Knowing that the Cook Government will provide free influenza vaccines in 2025 gives phar ..read more

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) have joined leading health bodies and the Federal Government in calling for reforms to the sale, supply, manufacture and commercial possession of vapes to pass parliament. PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim said Australians do not want to see a new generation of Australians taking up smoking or vaping. “PSA unreservedly supports any measure that reduces the chance of children and young people accessing vapes and support Australia’s world leading approach to tobacco control,” A/Prof Sim said. “Our priority focus in public health mess ..read more

Kidney Health Australia is calling on Australians to find out early if they are at risk of kidney disease, as waiting for symptoms is too late to slow it down. Three in four Australians are at risk of kidney disease, with the highest contributing factors being diabetes and high blood pressure. Nephrologist and Senior Medical Advisor, Dr Richard Phoon, a longstanding member of Kidney Health Australia’s advisory committee, said: “Early detection has never been more important. We have a unique opportunity to change the future for so many Australians. The best thing you can do this Kidney Action W ..read more

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is pleased to see the Federal Government taking action to relieve cost of living pressure on students undertaking mandatory unpaid placements as part of their studies but warns that students in pharmacy and other allied health professions are being left behind. Students studying pharmacy and paramedicine are among thousands who will fall outside of today’s announcement, with unpaid clinical placements forcing some to give up their education altogether. Under accreditation requirements, pharmacy students are required to undertake clinical placements ..read more