Priceline Pharmacy, in partnership with SiSU Health, is increasing patients’ access to prescriptions in a move that will revolutionize health management through the expansion of its Scripts Now platform. Patients can now order medication online and get access to medical consultation when necessary.
According to SiSU MD Noel Duncan, “[the] goal is to deliver a simple end-to-end service for ordering medication.” He believes that the medication will be critical for thousands of Australians who “struggle to obtain medications when needed, due to geographical time or other constraints associated with visiting their usual doctor.”
Users can access Scripts Now through the dedicated website, or on-site at a Priceline pharmacy. Requests will be reviewed by an Australian-registered GP or nurse, and telehealth consultation will be available when necessary.
Noel Duncan believes that the partnership will allow customers to regularly check their blood pressure and weight in pharmacies via the free SiSU machines, and the data will be reviewed with script renewal requests.
“We will also soon be able to notify the customer’s regular GP of the measurements and request, ensuring an integrated approach to healthcare management,” he said.
Read: Pharmacists urged to support patient weight management
Queensland pharmacies hit a new vaccination record
Almost 700 pharmacies in Queensland have administered a total of 161,000 Covid-19 vaccine jabs since the rollout began. Pharmacy Guild of Australia Branch Vice President, Amanda Seeto said accessibility was one of the key factors in making this happen.
“97% of Queenslanders living in metro areas live within 2.5m of a community pharmacy, as do 66% of those in regional areas. Greater accessibility to Covid-19 vaccination will mean more Queenslanders will get fully vaccinated sooner, and community pharmacies are only too happy to be part of this,” she said.
She also encouraged Queenslanders who have been put off by long waits to visit findapharmacy.com.au because many pharmacies are open for extended hours, and even weekends. According to her, they can also “give [their] community pharmacy a call or walk in and receive [their] free Covid-19 vaccination at a participating pharmacy.”
Queensland Government greenlights in-school vaccinations
The Queensland government has extended support for in-school vaccinations in private and public schools in the state. Qld Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the announcement in Parliament, with Guild president Trent Twomey confirming an agreement with the Government.
According to Twomey, “The Pharmacy Guild will be in contact with pharmacies so they can reach out to school principals to get the program up and running.”
Currently, the program is only for Far North Queensland Institutions, and the government has said there are no plans to expand to a nationwide effort.
Read: Australians React to the AstraZeneca Vaccine
“Deep skills in narrow areas aren’t enough”
Directors of Blackmores Limited unanimously recommend that the company shareholders vote against the election of George Tambassis to the board. According to the board, his “deep skills in narrow areas are not enough.”
George Tambassis, former Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President self-nominated for the role with backing from major shareholder and former Executive Chairman, Marcus Blackmore. He was also endorsed by the Chemist Warehouse Chief Operating Officer, Mario Tascone.
However, the current board is strongly against Tambassis’ election, and have even shared details on their decision with investors, including reasons why Tambassis had failed twice in an interview, in a letter.
According to the letter, he was “interviewed by independent Directors with an external search firm engaged in the process… on both occasions, Mr Tambassis was unsuccessful when compared against other candidates.”
“Blackmore Directors must have a breadth of skills and experience in areas that can help our multi-faceted, international business grow… the members of the Board have all demonstrated that they are ‘team players’ who can work as part of the team we have built, and have strengthened it,” the letter continued.
Glaucoma patient support initiative
Glaucoma has partnered with PharmaPrograms on an initiative to allow pharmacies country-wide to register their patents to the Glaucoma Patient Support Initiative.
“We know that there are at least 300,000 Australians with glaucoma, with half of those people yet to be diagnosed,” said Glaucoma Australia CEO Anne Gibbins.
“Of the 150,000 on treatment, half are not fully adherent to therapy. The more patients understand about chronic diseases such as glaucoma, the more likely they are to remain adherent to their medication therapy.”
Pharmacies interested in registering their patients can contact PharmaPrograms through the website.
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