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Message from the President – pharmacist suspensions, compounding FAQs on raw materials and the upcoming Council election

It’s been a busy time for the Pharmacy Council. The last few months have seen a concerning upward trend in serious complaints being raised. These complaints often require the Council’s immediate attention and at times result in the suspension of a pharmacist’s...

Education and research grants funding – applications open

The Council operates an education and research grants funding program with two rounds of funding offered each year. Applications for the end of year round of Education and Research Grants funding are now open, with applications accepted up until the closing date, 1...

Always ask!

‘Please could I have the original brand?’ ‘Of course Madam…you’ll just have to wait three days for us to get it in.’ ‘But I rang last week and you said it would be here and I’m right out of tablets.’ ‘Perhaps just this time we’ll give you a generic brand and I’ll make...

Tough love - mandatory notifications

Health practitioners are traditionally reluctant to make mandatory notifications for various reasons. These include a fear of becoming a part of a drawn out legal process, a perception that they are dobbing in their peers, or breaking the trust of their patient. It can...

Having that difficult conversation

The Council is concerned that some pharmacists are putting the public at risk through an unwillingness to challenge a prescriber when they see a prescription that is inappropriate, unclear or not understood. The Council has dealt with a number of such complaints and...

Requirement to disclose criminal history

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal recently considered a case where a pharmacist failed to advise the Pharmacy Board of Australia that he had been charged with offences punishable by 12 months imprisonment or more, within seven days of being charged by the NSW...

Pharmacy owners act now: Annual Declarations are overdue

Annual Declarations are now overdue . Reminders have recently been sent to pharmacists who had a financial interest in a pharmacy business between 1 st May 2017 and 30 th April 2018 and have not yet completed an Annual Declaration. If you sold your pharmacy business,...

Pharmacy Council releases fact sheet on compounding

The Pharmacy Council of New South Wales has released a fact sheet about raw materials used in compounding. This comes in response to a number of complaints received by the Council in relation to the authenticity of raw materials used in compounded preparations. Stuart...

Do you know what publications are required in your pharmacy?

You are required by Law to have available in your pharmacy the latest editions , and all published amendments or supplements to those editions of the publications listed in the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s Guidelines on practice-specific issues—Guideline 1 (List of...

Pharmacists have a right (and obligation) to speak up

Pharmacists should remember that the health and well being of patients and the community should be their primary concern when dispensing medicines. A number of recent incidents brought to our attention have highlighted the fact that many pharmacists are reluctant to...

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