JUST 1 TEASPOON OR 4 CAPSULES DAILY

Research suggests the correct dose

of fish oil needed to help reduce the
joint inflammation associated with mild
arthritis is 2.7 grams of omega-3 daily.
Proud supporters of

Thursday 12 Mar 2015

Todays issue of PD

Pharmacy Daily today has

two pages of news plus full
pages from: (click)
Sigma
Mater Mothers Hospitals

Vic Authority to
communicate
The Victorian Pharmacy Authority
has committed to publishing a
communiqu after each meeting.
In its first, following a meeting on
10 Mar, the Authority said it had
issued guidelines around facilities
used to provide immunisation in
pharmacies, effective immediately.
This was to make sure consistent
advice was available and came
in response to an increase in the
number of pharmacies enquiring
about or having immunisations
take place on site, an Authority
spokesperson said.
These guidelines included
that the room used meant the
immunisation was not visible or
audible to other people and that
seating be available for a patient
after receiving the immunisation.
The Authority said two panel
hearings had been held last month.
One resulted in a reprimand being
issued to a pharmacy proprietor
who had failed to ensure S8
transaction records showed the
true and accurate balance after
each transaction.
A condition involving quarterly
audits to be submitted to
the Authority was placed on
the proprietors license, the
communiqu said.

Cancer Prone skin

find out more

PHARMACYDAILY.COM.AU

Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist consult your healthcare professional.

No evidence for homeopathy

The National Health and Medical
Research Council (NHMRC) has
concluded that there is no good
quality evidence to support the
claim that homeopathy is effective
in treating health conditions.
The statement comes following a
review described by independent
expert University of Adelaide
Pharmacology senior lecturer
Dr Ian Musgrave as having some
limitations but being overall, a wide
ranging, carefully interpreted study
(PD 19 Dec 14).
This review looked at more than
1,800 papers, of which 225 studies
met criteria to be included.
It found no good quality, welldesigned studies with enough
participants to show homeopathy
worked better than a placebo, the
organisation said.
Although some studies did report
that homeopathy was effective,
the quality of those studies was
assessed as being small and/or of
poor quality.
These studies had either too
few participants, poor design, poor
conduct and or reporting to allow
reliable conclusions to be drawn on

Coroner calls for S8

security evaluation
The Coroner for the inquest into
the deaths of 14 residents of the
Quakers Hill Nursing Home in the
deliberately lit fire on 18 Nov 2011
has made a recommendation to
the NSW Minister for Health that
the case be referred to the Poisons
Advisory Committee to re-evaluate
the security protocols for S8 drugs
in nursing homes.
Roger Dean, the nurse found
guilty of deliberately lighting the
fire, was found to be addicted to
S8 drugs and had lit the fire to
destroy incriminating evidence of
his stealing of the drugs.
CLICK HERE for the findings.

RGH E-Bulletin
This weeks RGH Pharmacy
E-Bulletin is concerned with
the Citalopram on Agitation in
Alzheimer Disease trial.
CLICK HERE to access.

Pharmacy Daily Thursday 12th March 2015

the effectiveness of homeopathy.

Ceo Professor Warwick
Anderson said people who chose
homeopathy could put their health
at risk if they delayed or rejected
treatments with good evidence for
safety and effectiveness.
Health practitioners should
always offer treatments based on
the best available evidence, he said.
Anderson has previously said
it was a shock to see, as a
profession based on evidence,
some pharmacies offering
homeopathy products (PD 11 Dec
14).
He said it was important to
note the process was thoroughly
consultative and the public was
invited to submit evidence.
Complementary Medicines
Australia (CMA) reiterated its
concerns that there were flaws in
the methodology of the review,
including that a homeopathic
expert was not appointed to the
review panel and that randomised
controlled trials had been excluded
(PD 17 Dec 14), with ceo Carl
Gibson saying no valid conclusions
could be drawn from the review.
Friends of Science in Medicine
president Professor John Dwyer
called on the government to stop
subsidising homeopathy therapies
through student loans for these and
similar courses.
The government should also
not subsidise health funds offering
cover for pseudoscientific electives
of this kind.
CLICK HERE to read Musgraves
assessment of the reviews
methodology and HERE for the
NHMRC statement.

APP on location
Pharmacy Daily is on location
at APP 2015.
Come and say hi to the team,
editor Alex Walls and sales,
production and marketing executive
Magda Herdzik, and keep an eye on
our Twitter feed for live coverage at
@pharmacydaily.
APP kicks off this morning
with the State of the Industry
Symposium, with speakers
including Generic Medicines
Industry Association chair Mark
Crotty and Guild national president
George Tambassis, while at 12pm
the Pharmacy of the Year will be
announced.
Another highlight of the day will
be the keynote address by Minister
for Health Sussan Ley in what
organisers have described as her
first major address to community
pharmacy - stay tuned!

MARC curbs codeine

The NZ Medicines Adverse
Reactions Committee (MARC)
has finalised recommendations
resulting from its 04 Dec meeting
restricting the use of cough and
cold medicines containing codeine
and bromhexine for adult use and
for children over specific ages.
Bromhexine medicines can only
be used in children over six years
and codeine over 12 years of age.
CLICK HERE for details.

t 1300 799 220

For information and tickets visit Proticket.com.au

w www.pharmacydaily.com.au

page 1

The Professional Pharmacy Group Alternative

Thursday 12 Mar 2015

Prostate cancer death

highest in Australia

TWC back in black for

first half FY15

While Australians were less

likely to die from lung or colorectal
cancer, researchers are not clear
why the mortality rate for prostate
cancer is falling at a slower rate
than other countries, according to
a comparative study in the World
Journal of Urology and as first
reported by SMH.
The research evaluated prostate
cancer incidence and mortality in
Canada, England, Australia and
the US for the period 1994 to
2010, revealing that 10,895 excess
prostate cancer deaths occurred in
Australia compared with the US.
CLICK HERE for the study.

Terry White Chemists Group

Investments Limited (TWC GIL)
has posted net profit after tax of
$149,000 for the first half of the
2015 financial year.
This is up from a loss of $550,000
year on year.
The company posted a statutory
loss of $2.8m for the 2014 full year,
following an impairment charge
from the sale of Pharmacy Direct
brand assets (PD 25 Sep).
Earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortisation
(EBITDA) for the half was $764,000,
up 113% year on year, while total
operating revenue was up 16% year
on year to $22.9m.
The results had been driven
by increased revenue streams
from ownership of the TWC
brand, increased efficiencies
in management, including
investment in and implementation
of Enterprise Resource Planning
software, and the contribution
made by the Value Retail strategy
made to the performance of
pharmacies, TWC GIL ceo Anthony
White said.
The Strategy was a significant
undertaking but we are now
seeing a range of improvements
particularly in terms of growth in
script and other sales.

Travel Specials
Easter at Quay West Suites
Brisbane

qUAY West Suites Brisbane

has an Easter package available
priced from $229 per night.
The offer for a two-night
minimum stay includes a
continental breakfast for the
whole family and an Easter egg
hunt on Easter Sunday in the City
Botanic Gardens for the kids.
Available for stays from 02 to 18
Apr, call 07 3853 6000 to enquire.

LEARN MORE

PHARMACYDAILY.COM.AU

TGA within budget

The half year report from the
Therapeutic Goods Administration
(TGA) on its achievement against
key performance indicators (KPIs)
for the period July to December
2014 has shown that the
organisation has operated within
budget.
The eight KPIs measured included
stakeholder communication,
education and satisfaction, pre- and
post- market business operations,
international cooperation and
financial performance.
CLICK HERE for the TGA report.

Call for failed drugs

transparent research
In A study aimed at quantifying
the proportion of unpublished
trials for unsuccessfully licensed
drugs, it was found that much
of the information collected
in unsuccessful drug trials is
inaccessible to the broader
research and practice communities,
leading the authors to call for
greater transparency, accountability
and ethics in clinical research.
The study, published in the BMJ,
drew on data relating to 20,135
patients showing only 37% of failed
drugs studies were published
versus 75% of successful drugs.
CLICK HERE for the research.

Fijis Finest
Outrigger Enterprises

Group is offering the Fijis Finest

package, where guests will
receive a bonus F$600 resort
credit per room.
For a minimum four-night stay
at Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji
combined with a minimum threenight stay at Castaway Island, the
credit would be split between the
properties.
Available from 01 Apr 2015 to
31 Mar 2016, rates start from
F$453 per night at Outrigger on
the Lagoon and F$1,140 per night
at Castaway Island.
CLICK HERE for more.

This week Pharmacy Daily and Designer Brands

are giving readers a prize pack containing a new
look Mineral Eye Shadow, Beyond Amplifying
Mascara and two Kohl Pencils*.
Eyes are often the focal point of make-up and
Designer Brands All About Eyes promo celebrates
*Shade will be
chosen at random
their hottest selling on-trend eye products, a must
for every makeup lover. Designer Brands Beyond Amplifying
Mascara has a new formulation with Argan Oil and Lash Food
Complex, the company says. The prize pack also includes new look
Mineral Eye Shadow, and two Kohl Eye Pencils.
To win, be the first person from SA or NT to send the correct answer to
the following question to: [email protected]

How many shades are in the Kohl Pencil range?

Need a hint? Click here.

Congratulations to yesterdays winner, Lorraine Brouard from Symbion.

Pharmacy Daily is Australias favourite pharmacy industry publication.

Sign up free at www.pharmacydaily.com.au.
Postal address: PO Box 1010, Epping, NSW 1710 Australia
Street address: 4/41 Rawson St, Epping NSW 2121 Australia
P: 1300 799 220 (+61 2 8007 6760) F: 1300 799 221 (+61 2 8007 6769)

DISPENSARY
CORNER
Now thats a useful politician.
With discussion for the Sixth
Community Pharmacy Agreement
underway, and the mud slinging
occurring over the audit of the
Fifth Agreements administration,
we can expect to see more from
politicians about pharmacy.
But will we see politicians
offering their services as free taxi
drivers?
A town councillor in Georgia has
taken this step to show he really
is serving the public, BBC News
reported.
Zurab Sepiashvili is on the
council of Gurjaani but spends
four hours every Sunday giving
residents a free ride, footing
the bill for fuel and even giving
members of other political parties
a ride, the publication reported.
Now thats some useful politics!
For a good time.
Pharmacies already have
the advice part of a store
down, but for an honest liquor
recommendation, look to
US comedian Jeff Wysaski,
who added some straight up
recommendations to the shelves
of his local bottle shop, the
Telegraph reports.
These included on a
Chardonnay:
More like ChardonYAYYY Im
drunk at work AND IT FEELS
GREAT anyone wanna wrestle?
NO SARAH I WILL NOT STEP INTO
YOUR OFFICE.
Pairs nicely with:
Unemployment.
A Merlot sported the tag:
Doing an ancient death ritual,
but dont have the blood of your
enemies?
Dip your demon blade into this
Merlot instead.
Pairs nicely with:
REVENGE!
CLICK HERE to read more.

Publisher: Bruce Piper

Editor: Alex Walls [email protected]
Reporter: Mal Smith
Advertising and Marketing: Magda Herdzik [email protected]
Business Manager: Jenny Piper [email protected]

Part of the Travel Daily group of publications.

business events news
Pharmacy Daily is a publication of Pharmacy Daily Pty Ltd ABN 97 124 094 604. All content fully protected by copyright. Please obtain written permission to reproduce any material. While every care has been taken in the preparation of
the newsletter no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Information is published in good faith to stimulate independent investigation of the matters canvassed. Responsibility for editorial comment is taken by Bruce Piper.

Sigma Financial
Services Launched

To support pharmacists improve their financial management

and increase the profitability of their business, Sigma
has officially launched Sigma Financial Services. The key
objective of this new service to all its members is to provide
financial products and services that support our pharmacists
throughout the lifecycle of their professional journey from
purchaser, growth, consolidation, succession planning to
retirement and exit.
The initial launch of Sigmas financial services program
includes the following products and services:
Payment options for pharmacists providing BPAY, Visa /
MasterCard and now Amex credit card payment options.
Financing assistance and referral assisting customers with the
preparation of financing proposals for their pharmacy and
referring these on to Sigma pre-qualified supporting banks.
Business and fit outs, quick, low cost fit out finance. From
small refurbishments to full fit outs through a Sigma facilitated
process with pre-qualified supporting financiers.
Revitalised Sigma Rewards Loyalty program, now with the
added option of up to 30 days extended credit.
Sigma can perform a desktop or detailed profit & loss and
balance sheet review identifying opportunities for
consideration by the owner that may improve financial
performance or stability.

Sigma Launches
New Buying Guide
Sigma has launched a new nationwide buying
guide at the 2015 Amcal and Guardian National
Retail Conference currently underway on the
Gold Coast. This guide will assist all pharmacies
in the Amcal, Amcal Max and Guardian group
with accessing best buys via an easy online
connection offering greater accessibility.
All members across all pharmacy brands that
achieve 80 per cent plus brand standards will
have access to the new buying guide which will
offer better buying opportunities.
Suppliers welcomed the new buying guide as
part of their ongoing partnership with both
Sigma and all the members and believe it
will prove a win-win for everyone, improving
compliance and improving the buying process.
The new buying guide enhances the
relationship between suppliers and members
as key Sigma partners of choice.

Sigma Announces SIGNAL

Sigma has released a powerful new innovative analytical
platform called SIGNAL, created by technology partner
NostraData, at the Amcal Guardian Conference to the
delight of members present. SIGNAL will enable Amcal,
Amcal Max and Guardian pharmacies to simplify how they
operate and improve in-store productivity.

SIGNAL is a web and mobile-based product that will help

evaluate the relative performance of retail zones within
each pharmacy on a daily basis by pin-pointing key
areas to improve activity by benchmarking performance
against similar sized pharmacies for easier clarity to
enhance in-store productivity.

This new tool will allow members to better measure and

monitor the results of each of the unique pharmacy offers,
including professional services, category and private label
management and as well as the newly launched Sigma
Generics Program.

This technology is already industry leading and in coming

months will be further enhanced with new features to the
benefit of all members.

To find out more about Sigmas Retail brands please call 1300 660 439

PRO

CEEDS

SUPPORT

PR

OCEEDS

SUP

DE

VELOPED BY

Mater
+Mums

PORT

Shop our APP 2015 offer now!

D

We are delighted to offer 22% off wholesale list price

on all orders from now until 23 March 2015. To shop
this great offer, simply click HERE

EV

ELOPED B
Y

Mater
+Mums

If you are not attending APP 2015, you can still

access our great trade offer via the same link
just email or fax us your order.

Be the first to try NEW

Mater Nappy Balm
Visit Mater Mothers Hospitals at
Stand 344 to collect your sample
of NEW Mater Nappy Balm.
Mater Nappy Balm was formulated
to closely replicate the vernix
the naturally occurring substance
produced in the womb which coats
and protects the baby. This unique
to market innovation provides more
comfort for baby and peace of
mind for mum.

Visit us at APP 2015 Trade Show

Stand 344 and you could WIN an
iPad! Simply stop by and sign up
to our email database to enter.

Mater Customer Care Team

Phone: 1300 162 837

Email: [email protected]

facebook.com/matermothers

www.matermothers.org.au