Council Message – March 2021

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2021, and on behalf of the Council, Happy New Year and all the best for 2021. On 1 February we saw the requirement for Active Ingredient Prescribing for PBS & RPBS prescriptions introduced under new legislation, with a 6-month grace period expiring on 31 July 2021 to support pharmacists and consumers in the transition. The National Prescribing Service provides some useful support materials for both prescribers, pharmacists and consumers.

In this issue we include an article on emergency supply.  This is an area which seems to result in an amount of confusion and an area that results in a number complaints to the Council.

We also include an article which details mandatory notifications and how this applies in practice and a case study based on a nurse matter that sends a strong message to all health practitioners.

We also welcome Rick Samimi as our new member of Council and congratulate him on his recent appointment.