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[post_date] => 2025-02-26 10:33:47
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[post_content] => As the 47th annual Mardi Gras lights up Sydney this weekend, here’s how pharmacists can build trust and champion inclusive healthcare.
The history of LGBTQIA+ discrimination has had a profound impact on how people from this community access healthcare today. Centuries of systemic exclusion and stigma have created significant barriers to equitable healthcare, continuing to shape healthcare policies, provider attitudes, and patient experiences.
The majority of the LGBTQIA+ community accesses mainstream primary care and health services.
But many will experience discrimination or prejudice from health professionals when seeking care, said Rainbow Pharmacist Professor Lisa Nissen FPS, Director, Health Workforce Optimisation, Centre for Business and Economics of Health at the University of Queensland.
‘This can range from assuming certain aspects of behaviour based on their appearance, showing judgement about their sexual practice or being non-inclusive of partners in conversations,’ she said.
‘Most will have faced some forms of discrimination, harassment or homophobia in their daily life and will be looking for environmental cues in the health setting that it is a safe and accepting environment.’
What could LGBTQIA+ discrimination look like in a pharmacy setting?
Discrimination happens when, for example, a patient presents a Medicare card with their birth name on it, however the pharmacist knows that as a transgender person they identify by another preferred name – which has been written on the script by the prescriber, said Prof Nissen.
‘Choosing, on purpose, to call out their birth name and label their medicines by that name, rather than confirming their preferred name and labelling their medicine [accordingly] would be discriminatory and offensive to that person,’ she said.
Microaggressions are also commonplace. For example, when discussing the oral contraceptive pill for hormone regulation with a lesbian patient, assuming they have a male partner or asking, ‘Do you have a boyfriend?’ can be exclusionary and dismissive of their identity.
Other examples of microaggressions include:
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[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-02-24 11:52:46
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-24 00:52:46
[post_content] => Reporting additional patient information when administering vaccines will soon be required for all vaccination providers.
Here’s why it matters and how to comply.
What’s changing?
Under various regulations, pharmacists must report vaccines administered to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
Changes to the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 mean it is mandatory for all vaccination providers to report the administration of COVID-19, influenza, National Immunisation Program (NIP) and Japanese encephalitis virus vaccines to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), a Department of Health and Aged Care spokesperson told Australian Pharmacist.
‘Legislative changes mean … it will be mandatory for all vaccination providers to report to AIR information about whether an individual was pregnant at the time of vaccine administration,’ said the spokesperson.
When does this change come into effect?
The new mandatory reporting requirements apply from Saturday, 1 March 2025.
What’s the reason for the change?
The Department of Health and Aged Care spokesperson said that the collection of antenatal data is important as it ensures that AIR contains a complete and reliable dataset to enable the monitoring of:
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[post] => WP_Post Object
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[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-02-19 11:00:49
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-19 00:00:49
[post_content] => The popular weight-loss drug has been approved to treat cardiovascular disease in patients who are overweight or obese.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval is based on results from the SELECT double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial – a global study conducted in 41 countries, including Australia, with over 17,000 participants.
Australian Pharmacist spoke with Professor Stephen Nicholls, lead of the Australian arm of the SELECT trial, about the significance of this new indication and what pharmacists need to know.
What impact does a Wegovy have on cardiovascular risk?
It has been well known for many years that being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for heart disease, said Prof Nicholls.
[caption id="attachment_28714" align="alignnone" width="700"]
Professor Stephen Nicholls[/caption]
‘And in people who have had a heart attack, the presence of overweight or obesity is associated with a worse risk of having another event – but there's nothing specifically that we've been able to do for these people.’
For decades, clinical trials for weight loss drugs have shown no benefit in reducing cardiovascular risk in these patients.
‘But here you have a trial where we specifically targeted people who were overweight, and it reduced their risk,’ he said.
Participants in the SELECT trial had cardiovascular disease, overweight or obesity, but without diabetes, said Professor Stephen Nicholls.
‘The trial found that giving them semaglutide reduced their risk of having another event by 20%,’ he said. ‘That's a game changer – both for the drug and the field.’
What makes a patient eligible for Wegovy for cardiovascular disease?
The new TGA indication for Wegovy is as a complementary therapy for reducing major adverse cardiovascular events such as cardiovascular death, heart attack, or non-fatal stroke in adults with:
td_module_mega_menu Object
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[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-02-17 12:51:26
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-17 01:51:26
[post_content] => Checking a patient's photo identification (ID) can be both a useful – and mandatory – practice.
Australian Pharmacist explores the instances where minimum practice and legal obligations require pharmacists to verify photo ID.
Signing a statutory declaration as a witness
Under the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2023 and various state/territory regulations, pharmacists are approved to witness a Commonwealth statutory declaration.
The Statutory Declarations Act 1959 contains surprisingly little guidance on the responsibility of a witness. While the Act does not require witnesses to confirm a declarant’s identity or validity of their statement, there is an expectation witnesses are confident the person making the declaration is not acting fraudulently or under coercion.
Whether to increase confidence in a person’s identity, allay doubts or improve workflow, if the declarant is not known to them, pharmacists should request photo ID – or may choose to refuse to witness the Commonwealth statutory declaration altogether.
This approach also helps with consistency, as different types of declarations have different identity verification requirements. For example, in Victoria, the Oaths and Affirmations Act 2018 says a witness must not sign a statutory declaration unless the authorised witness has taken reasonable steps to ensure the declarant is the person named in the statutory declaration.
If the witness doesn’t know the declarant personally, the quickest and most reliable form of proof is always likely to be photo ID.
Signing a patient up for Active Script Lists
Following the implementation of the Active Script List (ASL) functionality, the Active Script List Release 1 – Privacy Framework was released in May 2021 – requiring pharmacists to verify a patient’s identity for ASL registration.
To confirm a patient's identity, pharmacists are legally required to check both a current government-issued photo ID and a Medicare or Department of Veteran Affairs card.
If the patient doesn't have a photo ID, pharmacists can either verify 100 points of other ID (along with their Medicare or DVA card) – or apply the ‘known patient model’.
The threshold for the ‘known patient model’ may surprise you. The patient must already be familiar to the individual pharmacist and have had at least four prescriptions filled in their name at that pharmacy in the past year.
Prescribing pseudoephedrine
Due to the potential for misuse, in most jurisdictions, pharmacists are required to sight or record certain details when prescribing medicines containing pseudoephedrine as Pharmacist Only medicines – including identity verification.
But the requirements vary from state to state.
For example in South Australia, pharmacists must not supply pseudoephedrine unless patients provide a form of photo ID or their birth certificate.
In NSW, the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 requires pharmacists to record a unique reference number, the supplier’s name, the patient’s name and address, and the product name, strength, quantity, and supply date. Importantly, if the recipient’s identity is unknown, pharmacists must record the unique reference number of a form of photo ID. And the implications of failing to do so are dire – resulting in up to 20 penalty units, 3 months' imprisonment – or both.
Establishing patient identity for enrolment in opioid dependence therapy
Critical to patient safety in opioid dependence therapy is correct identification, as administering a dose to the wrong patient can lead to a fatal overdose.
Positive patient identification is critical to validating someone’s identity accurately when establishing a person in the program, particularly when biometric data is collected.
Biometric identification systems, such as iris scanning, can be helpful in pharmacotherapy programs such as opioid dependence treatment for verifying patient identity, reducing the risk of diversion and dramatically streamlining workflow.
Photo identification at the time of establishing the profile can be valuable in supporting this. Most jurisdictions also have workaround options to establish patient identity (e.g. photo of patient signed by the prescriber) where photo identification is not available.
Dispensing controlled drugs (S8)
If a patient is not known to a pharmacy or their Medicare card details are unspecified, asking for photo identification can be useful to confirm identity when dispensing controlled substances.
This can be helpful in establishing the prescription is for a real person and reduce the risk of someone accessing Controlled Drugs through impersonation.
While this will be normal practice for many pharmacists, some may be surprised at specific requirements in their state and territory poisons regulations.. For example, in:
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[post_date] => 2025-02-12 13:15:46
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-12 02:15:46
[post_content] => Over the weekend, the Albanese Government announced a $573 million commitment to national women’s health initiatives, to bipartisan support.
So what is actually happening? And when?
Australian Pharmacist takes a ‘deep dive’ to help pharmacists navigate these life-changing initiatives for women.
Two new oral contraceptive pills listed on the PBS
What: oral contraceptive pills (OCP) Yaz (drospirenone/
Co-lead for Access, Care and Outcomes Subcommittee and PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS and moderator Ms Sophie Scott OAM[/caption]
‘Patients who meet the eligibility criteria will be able to access these medicines at a PBS-subsidised price, making access more affordable and equitable.’
Three new MHTs also set to be included on the PBS
What: the menopausal hormone therapies (MHTs) Estrogel (estradiol), Prometrium (progesterone) and Estrogel Pro (estragio/progesterone) will also be listed on the PBS – marking the first MHT listings in 20 years.
When: from 1 March 2025
Why: various MHTs, including strengths of Estalis (estradiol /norethisterone acetate) and Estradot (estradiol) transdermal patches, have been in short supply for months, forcing women to pay hundreds of dollars annually for substitutions under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act or newer, unsubsidised MHTs.
The TGA has also warned that supply shortages of some PBS-listed menopause treatments will persist throughout 2025.
PBAC recommended the listing of Prometrium, Estrogel and Estrogel Pro as General Schedule unrestricted benefit listings, with corresponding General Schedule restricted benefit listings for 60-day maximum dispensed quantities.
These new PBS subsidies also follow a 2024 Parliamentary Inquiry recommendation to make newer menopause therapies more affordable and accessible.
And because these medications match the body’s own hormones more closely, many women find they experience fewer or milder side effects compared to older therapies.
Impact: the new PBS subsidies mean women will soon be able to pay substantially less for modern menopause therapy – reducing the cost from around $650 per year to as little as $7.70 or $31.60 a month for around 150,000 women.
‘Prometrium, Estrogel and Estrogel Pro are all commonly used hormone replacement therapy,’ said PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS.
‘Having them on the PBS means they will be subsidised for women who need them, better supporting women experiencing perimenopause and menopause.’
A national approach for OCP access and treating uncomplicated UTIs directly from pharmacies
What: national OCP and urinary tract infection (UTI) pharmacy trials, allowing pharmacists to initiate PBS medicines for the first time ever.
When: early 2026. At this stage, these trials are part of Labor’s election platform, however the coalition has vowed to match this measure.
Why: the nation-wide trials are designed to boost access to treatment for uncomplicated UTIs and hormonal contraception through community pharmacists at PBS medicine cost.
Impact: around 250,000 concession cardholders will be able to consult a trained pharmacist free of charge. And if medication is required, they will only need to pay the standard cost of the medicine.
Enabling appropriately trained pharmacists to prescribe treatment for uncomplicated UTI and contraceptives under the PBS will allow for equitable, affordable healthcare for women and girls, said A/Prof Sim.
‘We all know that when experiencing symptoms of UTI, timely treatment is critical,’ she said.
Previously, when prescribing and management of these acute conditions were undertaken, patients often faced additional out-of-pocket costs to see a pharmacist versus a GP.
‘[Allowing] pharmacists to prescribe treatment under the PBS means there is no discrimination with care,’ she added.
Widened access to long-term contraceptives at a lower cost
When: unknown at this stage. The coalition has vowed to match this measure.
Why: only 6% of Australian women use an Intrauterine device (IUD), with 5% opting for the contraceptive implant – partly due to a lack of awareness about these options.
Access is further impacted by difficulties finding trained GPs, coupled with long waiting times, for insertions.
While a slight Medicare rebate increase was introduced in 2022, it doesn’t cover the costs and time required for IUD insertion – discouraging many GPs from offering the service. The high cost of training also makes it challenging for GPs to gain the necessary qualifications.
Impact: the new women’s health package improves access to IUDs and implants by increasing clinician rebates and introducing Medicare coverage for nurse practitioner insertions. It also incentivises GPs to bulk bill insertions, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for women. Eight training centers will also be established across Australia to enhance clinician skills and confidence in IUD insertion.
‘This should make it more affordable and much easier for women to find a clinician to insert it,’ said Danielle Mazza, Director, SPHERE NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care.
New Medicare support for menopause
What: a new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments
When: from 1 July 2025
It is unclear when funding to train health professionals, a first-ever clinical guideline for menopause and a national awareness campaign will be introduced. But the coalition has vowed to follow through with these initiatives if reelected.
Why: as one caller to 774 ABC Radio Melbourne put it this week, ‘women are just used to putting up with stuff.’
‘I've always had the feeling that once you hit 65, once supposedly you’ve had your kids and you've helped a bit with the grandchildren that basically medically you're just forgotten,’ the caller continued.
The menopause initiative should help to shift that narrative, designed to support women experiencing menopause and perimenopause to receive appropriate care from their GP, and help to ensure informed conversations with trained healthcare professionals.
Impact: a 2024 Parliamentary inquiry into menopause found GPs have limited knowledge and perimenopause and menopause and are often unable to recognise symptoms.
Boosting healthcare education and knowledge, along with empowering women to advocate for their own health, should help to address this.
More clinics to address endometriosis and pelvic pain
What: 11 new clinics dedicated to endometriosis and pelvic pain will be opened, along with 33 existing clinics receiving more staff to provide specialist support for menopause
When: an unspecified date after the federal election. The coalition has vowed to match these initiatives if elected.
Why: endometriosis affects around one in 7 Australian women by age 44–49, often leading to severe pelvic pain, fertility issues, irritable bowel syndrome or mental health issues. Yet despite advancements in medicines and surgical treatments, there is still a high rate of recurrence.
A Victorian inquiry into women's pain and health also found that the pain women experience is often overlooked.
Impact: through more healthcare avenues, women can benefit from improved access to diagnostic, treatment and referral services for endometriosis and pelvic pain.
The announcement will break down barriers to healthcare access, especially in regional, rural and remote areas, reflecting the recommendations and work of the National Women’s Health Council, said A/Prof Sim, who co-chairs the Access, Care and Outcomes Subcommittee.
‘These are the recommendations our Council has been calling for,’ she added.
A summary of these announcements is below:
| What | When | Detail |
| Listing of two additional oral contraceptive pills on the PBS | 1 March 2025 | Yaz and Yasmin will be listed on the PBS as unrestricted benefits |
| Listing of three additional menopausal hormone therapies on PBS | 1 March 2025 | Estrogel, Prometrium and Estrogel Pro will be listed on the PBS as unrestricted benefits |
| Pharmacy trials of OCP prescribing and treating uncomplicated UTIs | Early 2026* | Free-of-charge UTI and OCP consultations in community pharmacies for concession card holders, with prescribed medicines available via the PBS |
| Increased access to long-term contraceptives | Unknown* | Increased rebates and new Medicare rebates for IUD and hormonal implant insertions. Eight training centres to be established to increase clinician skill and confidence |
| Medicare support for menopause | From 1 July 2025 | New Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments Training, guidelines and a public awareness campaign will also be developed |
| Additional endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics | Unknown* | 11 new clinics (in addition to 33 currently existing) dedicated to endometriosis and pelvic pain |
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[post_content] => As the 47th annual Mardi Gras lights up Sydney this weekend, here’s how pharmacists can build trust and champion inclusive healthcare.
The history of LGBTQIA+ discrimination has had a profound impact on how people from this community access healthcare today. Centuries of systemic exclusion and stigma have created significant barriers to equitable healthcare, continuing to shape healthcare policies, provider attitudes, and patient experiences.
The majority of the LGBTQIA+ community accesses mainstream primary care and health services.
But many will experience discrimination or prejudice from health professionals when seeking care, said Rainbow Pharmacist Professor Lisa Nissen FPS, Director, Health Workforce Optimisation, Centre for Business and Economics of Health at the University of Queensland.
‘This can range from assuming certain aspects of behaviour based on their appearance, showing judgement about their sexual practice or being non-inclusive of partners in conversations,’ she said.
‘Most will have faced some forms of discrimination, harassment or homophobia in their daily life and will be looking for environmental cues in the health setting that it is a safe and accepting environment.’
What could LGBTQIA+ discrimination look like in a pharmacy setting?
Discrimination happens when, for example, a patient presents a Medicare card with their birth name on it, however the pharmacist knows that as a transgender person they identify by another preferred name – which has been written on the script by the prescriber, said Prof Nissen.
‘Choosing, on purpose, to call out their birth name and label their medicines by that name, rather than confirming their preferred name and labelling their medicine [accordingly] would be discriminatory and offensive to that person,’ she said.
Microaggressions are also commonplace. For example, when discussing the oral contraceptive pill for hormone regulation with a lesbian patient, assuming they have a male partner or asking, ‘Do you have a boyfriend?’ can be exclusionary and dismissive of their identity.
Other examples of microaggressions include:
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[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-02-24 11:52:46
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-24 00:52:46
[post_content] => Reporting additional patient information when administering vaccines will soon be required for all vaccination providers.
Here’s why it matters and how to comply.
What’s changing?
Under various regulations, pharmacists must report vaccines administered to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
Changes to the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 mean it is mandatory for all vaccination providers to report the administration of COVID-19, influenza, National Immunisation Program (NIP) and Japanese encephalitis virus vaccines to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), a Department of Health and Aged Care spokesperson told Australian Pharmacist.
‘Legislative changes mean … it will be mandatory for all vaccination providers to report to AIR information about whether an individual was pregnant at the time of vaccine administration,’ said the spokesperson.
When does this change come into effect?
The new mandatory reporting requirements apply from Saturday, 1 March 2025.
What’s the reason for the change?
The Department of Health and Aged Care spokesperson said that the collection of antenatal data is important as it ensures that AIR contains a complete and reliable dataset to enable the monitoring of:
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[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-02-19 11:00:49
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-19 00:00:49
[post_content] => The popular weight-loss drug has been approved to treat cardiovascular disease in patients who are overweight or obese.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval is based on results from the SELECT double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial – a global study conducted in 41 countries, including Australia, with over 17,000 participants.
Australian Pharmacist spoke with Professor Stephen Nicholls, lead of the Australian arm of the SELECT trial, about the significance of this new indication and what pharmacists need to know.
What impact does a Wegovy have on cardiovascular risk?
It has been well known for many years that being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for heart disease, said Prof Nicholls.
[caption id="attachment_28714" align="alignnone" width="700"] Professor Stephen Nicholls[/caption]
‘And in people who have had a heart attack, the presence of overweight or obesity is associated with a worse risk of having another event – but there's nothing specifically that we've been able to do for these people.’
For decades, clinical trials for weight loss drugs have shown no benefit in reducing cardiovascular risk in these patients.
‘But here you have a trial where we specifically targeted people who were overweight, and it reduced their risk,’ he said.
Participants in the SELECT trial had cardiovascular disease, overweight or obesity, but without diabetes, said Professor Stephen Nicholls.
‘The trial found that giving them semaglutide reduced their risk of having another event by 20%,’ he said. ‘That's a game changer – both for the drug and the field.’
What makes a patient eligible for Wegovy for cardiovascular disease?
The new TGA indication for Wegovy is as a complementary therapy for reducing major adverse cardiovascular events such as cardiovascular death, heart attack, or non-fatal stroke in adults with:
td_module_mega_menu Object
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[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-02-17 12:51:26
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-17 01:51:26
[post_content] => Checking a patient's photo identification (ID) can be both a useful – and mandatory – practice.
Australian Pharmacist explores the instances where minimum practice and legal obligations require pharmacists to verify photo ID.
Signing a statutory declaration as a witness
Under the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2023 and various state/territory regulations, pharmacists are approved to witness a Commonwealth statutory declaration.
The Statutory Declarations Act 1959 contains surprisingly little guidance on the responsibility of a witness. While the Act does not require witnesses to confirm a declarant’s identity or validity of their statement, there is an expectation witnesses are confident the person making the declaration is not acting fraudulently or under coercion.
Whether to increase confidence in a person’s identity, allay doubts or improve workflow, if the declarant is not known to them, pharmacists should request photo ID – or may choose to refuse to witness the Commonwealth statutory declaration altogether.
This approach also helps with consistency, as different types of declarations have different identity verification requirements. For example, in Victoria, the Oaths and Affirmations Act 2018 says a witness must not sign a statutory declaration unless the authorised witness has taken reasonable steps to ensure the declarant is the person named in the statutory declaration.
If the witness doesn’t know the declarant personally, the quickest and most reliable form of proof is always likely to be photo ID.
Signing a patient up for Active Script Lists
Following the implementation of the Active Script List (ASL) functionality, the Active Script List Release 1 – Privacy Framework was released in May 2021 – requiring pharmacists to verify a patient’s identity for ASL registration.
To confirm a patient's identity, pharmacists are legally required to check both a current government-issued photo ID and a Medicare or Department of Veteran Affairs card.
If the patient doesn't have a photo ID, pharmacists can either verify 100 points of other ID (along with their Medicare or DVA card) – or apply the ‘known patient model’.
The threshold for the ‘known patient model’ may surprise you. The patient must already be familiar to the individual pharmacist and have had at least four prescriptions filled in their name at that pharmacy in the past year.
Prescribing pseudoephedrine
Due to the potential for misuse, in most jurisdictions, pharmacists are required to sight or record certain details when prescribing medicines containing pseudoephedrine as Pharmacist Only medicines – including identity verification.
But the requirements vary from state to state.
For example in South Australia, pharmacists must not supply pseudoephedrine unless patients provide a form of photo ID or their birth certificate.
In NSW, the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 requires pharmacists to record a unique reference number, the supplier’s name, the patient’s name and address, and the product name, strength, quantity, and supply date. Importantly, if the recipient’s identity is unknown, pharmacists must record the unique reference number of a form of photo ID. And the implications of failing to do so are dire – resulting in up to 20 penalty units, 3 months' imprisonment – or both.
Establishing patient identity for enrolment in opioid dependence therapy
Critical to patient safety in opioid dependence therapy is correct identification, as administering a dose to the wrong patient can lead to a fatal overdose.
Positive patient identification is critical to validating someone’s identity accurately when establishing a person in the program, particularly when biometric data is collected.
Biometric identification systems, such as iris scanning, can be helpful in pharmacotherapy programs such as opioid dependence treatment for verifying patient identity, reducing the risk of diversion and dramatically streamlining workflow.
Photo identification at the time of establishing the profile can be valuable in supporting this. Most jurisdictions also have workaround options to establish patient identity (e.g. photo of patient signed by the prescriber) where photo identification is not available.
Dispensing controlled drugs (S8)
If a patient is not known to a pharmacy or their Medicare card details are unspecified, asking for photo identification can be useful to confirm identity when dispensing controlled substances.
This can be helpful in establishing the prescription is for a real person and reduce the risk of someone accessing Controlled Drugs through impersonation.
While this will be normal practice for many pharmacists, some may be surprised at specific requirements in their state and territory poisons regulations.. For example, in:
td_module_mega_menu Object
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[post] => WP_Post Object
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[ID] => 28659
[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-02-12 13:15:46
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-12 02:15:46
[post_content] => Over the weekend, the Albanese Government announced a $573 million commitment to national women’s health initiatives, to bipartisan support.
So what is actually happening? And when?
Australian Pharmacist takes a ‘deep dive’ to help pharmacists navigate these life-changing initiatives for women.
Two new oral contraceptive pills listed on the PBS
What: oral contraceptive pills (OCP) Yaz (drospirenone/Three new MHTs also set to be included on the PBS
What: the menopausal hormone therapies (MHTs) Estrogel (estradiol), Prometrium (progesterone) and Estrogel Pro (estragio/progesterone) will also be listed on the PBS – marking the first MHT listings in 20 years.
When: from 1 March 2025
Why: various MHTs, including strengths of Estalis (estradiol /norethisterone acetate) and Estradot (estradiol) transdermal patches, have been in short supply for months, forcing women to pay hundreds of dollars annually for substitutions under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act or newer, unsubsidised MHTs.
The TGA has also warned that supply shortages of some PBS-listed menopause treatments will persist throughout 2025.
PBAC recommended the listing of Prometrium, Estrogel and Estrogel Pro as General Schedule unrestricted benefit listings, with corresponding General Schedule restricted benefit listings for 60-day maximum dispensed quantities.
These new PBS subsidies also follow a 2024 Parliamentary Inquiry recommendation to make newer menopause therapies more affordable and accessible.
And because these medications match the body’s own hormones more closely, many women find they experience fewer or milder side effects compared to older therapies.
Impact: the new PBS subsidies mean women will soon be able to pay substantially less for modern menopause therapy – reducing the cost from around $650 per year to as little as $7.70 or $31.60 a month for around 150,000 women.
‘Prometrium, Estrogel and Estrogel Pro are all commonly used hormone replacement therapy,’ said PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS.
‘Having them on the PBS means they will be subsidised for women who need them, better supporting women experiencing perimenopause and menopause.’
A national approach for OCP access and treating uncomplicated UTIs directly from pharmacies
What: national OCP and urinary tract infection (UTI) pharmacy trials, allowing pharmacists to initiate PBS medicines for the first time ever.
When: early 2026. At this stage, these trials are part of Labor’s election platform, however the coalition has vowed to match this measure.
Why: the nation-wide trials are designed to boost access to treatment for uncomplicated UTIs and hormonal contraception through community pharmacists at PBS medicine cost.
Impact: around 250,000 concession cardholders will be able to consult a trained pharmacist free of charge. And if medication is required, they will only need to pay the standard cost of the medicine.
Enabling appropriately trained pharmacists to prescribe treatment for uncomplicated UTI and contraceptives under the PBS will allow for equitable, affordable healthcare for women and girls, said A/Prof Sim.
‘We all know that when experiencing symptoms of UTI, timely treatment is critical,’ she said.
Previously, when prescribing and management of these acute conditions were undertaken, patients often faced additional out-of-pocket costs to see a pharmacist versus a GP.
‘[Allowing] pharmacists to prescribe treatment under the PBS means there is no discrimination with care,’ she added.
Widened access to long-term contraceptives at a lower cost
When: unknown at this stage. The coalition has vowed to match this measure.
Why: only 6% of Australian women use an Intrauterine device (IUD), with 5% opting for the contraceptive implant – partly due to a lack of awareness about these options.
Access is further impacted by difficulties finding trained GPs, coupled with long waiting times, for insertions.
While a slight Medicare rebate increase was introduced in 2022, it doesn’t cover the costs and time required for IUD insertion – discouraging many GPs from offering the service. The high cost of training also makes it challenging for GPs to gain the necessary qualifications.
Impact: the new women’s health package improves access to IUDs and implants by increasing clinician rebates and introducing Medicare coverage for nurse practitioner insertions. It also incentivises GPs to bulk bill insertions, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for women. Eight training centers will also be established across Australia to enhance clinician skills and confidence in IUD insertion.
‘This should make it more affordable and much easier for women to find a clinician to insert it,’ said Danielle Mazza, Director, SPHERE NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care.
New Medicare support for menopause
What: a new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments
When: from 1 July 2025
It is unclear when funding to train health professionals, a first-ever clinical guideline for menopause and a national awareness campaign will be introduced. But the coalition has vowed to follow through with these initiatives if reelected.
Why: as one caller to 774 ABC Radio Melbourne put it this week, ‘women are just used to putting up with stuff.’
‘I've always had the feeling that once you hit 65, once supposedly you’ve had your kids and you've helped a bit with the grandchildren that basically medically you're just forgotten,’ the caller continued.
The menopause initiative should help to shift that narrative, designed to support women experiencing menopause and perimenopause to receive appropriate care from their GP, and help to ensure informed conversations with trained healthcare professionals.
Impact: a 2024 Parliamentary inquiry into menopause found GPs have limited knowledge and perimenopause and menopause and are often unable to recognise symptoms.
Boosting healthcare education and knowledge, along with empowering women to advocate for their own health, should help to address this.
More clinics to address endometriosis and pelvic pain
What: 11 new clinics dedicated to endometriosis and pelvic pain will be opened, along with 33 existing clinics receiving more staff to provide specialist support for menopause
When: an unspecified date after the federal election. The coalition has vowed to match these initiatives if elected.
Why: endometriosis affects around one in 7 Australian women by age 44–49, often leading to severe pelvic pain, fertility issues, irritable bowel syndrome or mental health issues. Yet despite advancements in medicines and surgical treatments, there is still a high rate of recurrence.
A Victorian inquiry into women's pain and health also found that the pain women experience is often overlooked.
Impact: through more healthcare avenues, women can benefit from improved access to diagnostic, treatment and referral services for endometriosis and pelvic pain.
The announcement will break down barriers to healthcare access, especially in regional, rural and remote areas, reflecting the recommendations and work of the National Women’s Health Council, said A/Prof Sim, who co-chairs the Access, Care and Outcomes Subcommittee.
‘These are the recommendations our Council has been calling for,’ she added.
A summary of these announcements is below:
| What | When | Detail |
| Listing of two additional oral contraceptive pills on the PBS | 1 March 2025 | Yaz and Yasmin will be listed on the PBS as unrestricted benefits |
| Listing of three additional menopausal hormone therapies on PBS | 1 March 2025 | Estrogel, Prometrium and Estrogel Pro will be listed on the PBS as unrestricted benefits |
| Pharmacy trials of OCP prescribing and treating uncomplicated UTIs | Early 2026* | Free-of-charge UTI and OCP consultations in community pharmacies for concession card holders, with prescribed medicines available via the PBS |
| Increased access to long-term contraceptives | Unknown* | Increased rebates and new Medicare rebates for IUD and hormonal implant insertions. Eight training centres to be established to increase clinician skill and confidence |
| Medicare support for menopause | From 1 July 2025 | New Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments Training, guidelines and a public awareness campaign will also be developed |
| Additional endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics | Unknown* | 11 new clinics (in addition to 33 currently existing) dedicated to endometriosis and pelvic pain |
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[post_content] => As the 47th annual Mardi Gras lights up Sydney this weekend, here’s how pharmacists can build trust and champion inclusive healthcare.
The history of LGBTQIA+ discrimination has had a profound impact on how people from this community access healthcare today. Centuries of systemic exclusion and stigma have created significant barriers to equitable healthcare, continuing to shape healthcare policies, provider attitudes, and patient experiences.
The majority of the LGBTQIA+ community accesses mainstream primary care and health services.
But many will experience discrimination or prejudice from health professionals when seeking care, said Rainbow Pharmacist Professor Lisa Nissen FPS, Director, Health Workforce Optimisation, Centre for Business and Economics of Health at the University of Queensland.
‘This can range from assuming certain aspects of behaviour based on their appearance, showing judgement about their sexual practice or being non-inclusive of partners in conversations,’ she said.
‘Most will have faced some forms of discrimination, harassment or homophobia in their daily life and will be looking for environmental cues in the health setting that it is a safe and accepting environment.’
What could LGBTQIA+ discrimination look like in a pharmacy setting?
Discrimination happens when, for example, a patient presents a Medicare card with their birth name on it, however the pharmacist knows that as a transgender person they identify by another preferred name – which has been written on the script by the prescriber, said Prof Nissen.
‘Choosing, on purpose, to call out their birth name and label their medicines by that name, rather than confirming their preferred name and labelling their medicine [accordingly] would be discriminatory and offensive to that person,’ she said.
Microaggressions are also commonplace. For example, when discussing the oral contraceptive pill for hormone regulation with a lesbian patient, assuming they have a male partner or asking, ‘Do you have a boyfriend?’ can be exclusionary and dismissive of their identity.
Other examples of microaggressions include:
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[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-02-24 11:52:46
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-24 00:52:46
[post_content] => Reporting additional patient information when administering vaccines will soon be required for all vaccination providers.
Here’s why it matters and how to comply.
What’s changing?
Under various regulations, pharmacists must report vaccines administered to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
Changes to the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 mean it is mandatory for all vaccination providers to report the administration of COVID-19, influenza, National Immunisation Program (NIP) and Japanese encephalitis virus vaccines to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), a Department of Health and Aged Care spokesperson told Australian Pharmacist.
‘Legislative changes mean … it will be mandatory for all vaccination providers to report to AIR information about whether an individual was pregnant at the time of vaccine administration,’ said the spokesperson.
When does this change come into effect?
The new mandatory reporting requirements apply from Saturday, 1 March 2025.
What’s the reason for the change?
The Department of Health and Aged Care spokesperson said that the collection of antenatal data is important as it ensures that AIR contains a complete and reliable dataset to enable the monitoring of:
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[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-02-19 11:00:49
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-19 00:00:49
[post_content] => The popular weight-loss drug has been approved to treat cardiovascular disease in patients who are overweight or obese.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval is based on results from the SELECT double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial – a global study conducted in 41 countries, including Australia, with over 17,000 participants.
Australian Pharmacist spoke with Professor Stephen Nicholls, lead of the Australian arm of the SELECT trial, about the significance of this new indication and what pharmacists need to know.
What impact does a Wegovy have on cardiovascular risk?
It has been well known for many years that being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for heart disease, said Prof Nicholls.
[caption id="attachment_28714" align="alignnone" width="700"] Professor Stephen Nicholls[/caption]
‘And in people who have had a heart attack, the presence of overweight or obesity is associated with a worse risk of having another event – but there's nothing specifically that we've been able to do for these people.’
For decades, clinical trials for weight loss drugs have shown no benefit in reducing cardiovascular risk in these patients.
‘But here you have a trial where we specifically targeted people who were overweight, and it reduced their risk,’ he said.
Participants in the SELECT trial had cardiovascular disease, overweight or obesity, but without diabetes, said Professor Stephen Nicholls.
‘The trial found that giving them semaglutide reduced their risk of having another event by 20%,’ he said. ‘That's a game changer – both for the drug and the field.’
What makes a patient eligible for Wegovy for cardiovascular disease?
The new TGA indication for Wegovy is as a complementary therapy for reducing major adverse cardiovascular events such as cardiovascular death, heart attack, or non-fatal stroke in adults with:
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[post_date] => 2025-02-17 12:51:26
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-17 01:51:26
[post_content] => Checking a patient's photo identification (ID) can be both a useful – and mandatory – practice.
Australian Pharmacist explores the instances where minimum practice and legal obligations require pharmacists to verify photo ID.
Signing a statutory declaration as a witness
Under the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2023 and various state/territory regulations, pharmacists are approved to witness a Commonwealth statutory declaration.
The Statutory Declarations Act 1959 contains surprisingly little guidance on the responsibility of a witness. While the Act does not require witnesses to confirm a declarant’s identity or validity of their statement, there is an expectation witnesses are confident the person making the declaration is not acting fraudulently or under coercion.
Whether to increase confidence in a person’s identity, allay doubts or improve workflow, if the declarant is not known to them, pharmacists should request photo ID – or may choose to refuse to witness the Commonwealth statutory declaration altogether.
This approach also helps with consistency, as different types of declarations have different identity verification requirements. For example, in Victoria, the Oaths and Affirmations Act 2018 says a witness must not sign a statutory declaration unless the authorised witness has taken reasonable steps to ensure the declarant is the person named in the statutory declaration.
If the witness doesn’t know the declarant personally, the quickest and most reliable form of proof is always likely to be photo ID.
Signing a patient up for Active Script Lists
Following the implementation of the Active Script List (ASL) functionality, the Active Script List Release 1 – Privacy Framework was released in May 2021 – requiring pharmacists to verify a patient’s identity for ASL registration.
To confirm a patient's identity, pharmacists are legally required to check both a current government-issued photo ID and a Medicare or Department of Veteran Affairs card.
If the patient doesn't have a photo ID, pharmacists can either verify 100 points of other ID (along with their Medicare or DVA card) – or apply the ‘known patient model’.
The threshold for the ‘known patient model’ may surprise you. The patient must already be familiar to the individual pharmacist and have had at least four prescriptions filled in their name at that pharmacy in the past year.
Prescribing pseudoephedrine
Due to the potential for misuse, in most jurisdictions, pharmacists are required to sight or record certain details when prescribing medicines containing pseudoephedrine as Pharmacist Only medicines – including identity verification.
But the requirements vary from state to state.
For example in South Australia, pharmacists must not supply pseudoephedrine unless patients provide a form of photo ID or their birth certificate.
In NSW, the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 requires pharmacists to record a unique reference number, the supplier’s name, the patient’s name and address, and the product name, strength, quantity, and supply date. Importantly, if the recipient’s identity is unknown, pharmacists must record the unique reference number of a form of photo ID. And the implications of failing to do so are dire – resulting in up to 20 penalty units, 3 months' imprisonment – or both.
Establishing patient identity for enrolment in opioid dependence therapy
Critical to patient safety in opioid dependence therapy is correct identification, as administering a dose to the wrong patient can lead to a fatal overdose.
Positive patient identification is critical to validating someone’s identity accurately when establishing a person in the program, particularly when biometric data is collected.
Biometric identification systems, such as iris scanning, can be helpful in pharmacotherapy programs such as opioid dependence treatment for verifying patient identity, reducing the risk of diversion and dramatically streamlining workflow.
Photo identification at the time of establishing the profile can be valuable in supporting this. Most jurisdictions also have workaround options to establish patient identity (e.g. photo of patient signed by the prescriber) where photo identification is not available.
Dispensing controlled drugs (S8)
If a patient is not known to a pharmacy or their Medicare card details are unspecified, asking for photo identification can be useful to confirm identity when dispensing controlled substances.
This can be helpful in establishing the prescription is for a real person and reduce the risk of someone accessing Controlled Drugs through impersonation.
While this will be normal practice for many pharmacists, some may be surprised at specific requirements in their state and territory poisons regulations.. For example, in:
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[post_date] => 2025-02-12 13:15:46
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-12 02:15:46
[post_content] => Over the weekend, the Albanese Government announced a $573 million commitment to national women’s health initiatives, to bipartisan support.
So what is actually happening? And when?
Australian Pharmacist takes a ‘deep dive’ to help pharmacists navigate these life-changing initiatives for women.
Two new oral contraceptive pills listed on the PBS
What: oral contraceptive pills (OCP) Yaz (drospirenone/Three new MHTs also set to be included on the PBS
What: the menopausal hormone therapies (MHTs) Estrogel (estradiol), Prometrium (progesterone) and Estrogel Pro (estragio/progesterone) will also be listed on the PBS – marking the first MHT listings in 20 years.
When: from 1 March 2025
Why: various MHTs, including strengths of Estalis (estradiol /norethisterone acetate) and Estradot (estradiol) transdermal patches, have been in short supply for months, forcing women to pay hundreds of dollars annually for substitutions under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act or newer, unsubsidised MHTs.
The TGA has also warned that supply shortages of some PBS-listed menopause treatments will persist throughout 2025.
PBAC recommended the listing of Prometrium, Estrogel and Estrogel Pro as General Schedule unrestricted benefit listings, with corresponding General Schedule restricted benefit listings for 60-day maximum dispensed quantities.
These new PBS subsidies also follow a 2024 Parliamentary Inquiry recommendation to make newer menopause therapies more affordable and accessible.
And because these medications match the body’s own hormones more closely, many women find they experience fewer or milder side effects compared to older therapies.
Impact: the new PBS subsidies mean women will soon be able to pay substantially less for modern menopause therapy – reducing the cost from around $650 per year to as little as $7.70 or $31.60 a month for around 150,000 women.
‘Prometrium, Estrogel and Estrogel Pro are all commonly used hormone replacement therapy,’ said PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS.
‘Having them on the PBS means they will be subsidised for women who need them, better supporting women experiencing perimenopause and menopause.’
A national approach for OCP access and treating uncomplicated UTIs directly from pharmacies
What: national OCP and urinary tract infection (UTI) pharmacy trials, allowing pharmacists to initiate PBS medicines for the first time ever.
When: early 2026. At this stage, these trials are part of Labor’s election platform, however the coalition has vowed to match this measure.
Why: the nation-wide trials are designed to boost access to treatment for uncomplicated UTIs and hormonal contraception through community pharmacists at PBS medicine cost.
Impact: around 250,000 concession cardholders will be able to consult a trained pharmacist free of charge. And if medication is required, they will only need to pay the standard cost of the medicine.
Enabling appropriately trained pharmacists to prescribe treatment for uncomplicated UTI and contraceptives under the PBS will allow for equitable, affordable healthcare for women and girls, said A/Prof Sim.
‘We all know that when experiencing symptoms of UTI, timely treatment is critical,’ she said.
Previously, when prescribing and management of these acute conditions were undertaken, patients often faced additional out-of-pocket costs to see a pharmacist versus a GP.
‘[Allowing] pharmacists to prescribe treatment under the PBS means there is no discrimination with care,’ she added.
Widened access to long-term contraceptives at a lower cost
When: unknown at this stage. The coalition has vowed to match this measure.
Why: only 6% of Australian women use an Intrauterine device (IUD), with 5% opting for the contraceptive implant – partly due to a lack of awareness about these options.
Access is further impacted by difficulties finding trained GPs, coupled with long waiting times, for insertions.
While a slight Medicare rebate increase was introduced in 2022, it doesn’t cover the costs and time required for IUD insertion – discouraging many GPs from offering the service. The high cost of training also makes it challenging for GPs to gain the necessary qualifications.
Impact: the new women’s health package improves access to IUDs and implants by increasing clinician rebates and introducing Medicare coverage for nurse practitioner insertions. It also incentivises GPs to bulk bill insertions, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for women. Eight training centers will also be established across Australia to enhance clinician skills and confidence in IUD insertion.
‘This should make it more affordable and much easier for women to find a clinician to insert it,’ said Danielle Mazza, Director, SPHERE NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care.
New Medicare support for menopause
What: a new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments
When: from 1 July 2025
It is unclear when funding to train health professionals, a first-ever clinical guideline for menopause and a national awareness campaign will be introduced. But the coalition has vowed to follow through with these initiatives if reelected.
Why: as one caller to 774 ABC Radio Melbourne put it this week, ‘women are just used to putting up with stuff.’
‘I've always had the feeling that once you hit 65, once supposedly you’ve had your kids and you've helped a bit with the grandchildren that basically medically you're just forgotten,’ the caller continued.
The menopause initiative should help to shift that narrative, designed to support women experiencing menopause and perimenopause to receive appropriate care from their GP, and help to ensure informed conversations with trained healthcare professionals.
Impact: a 2024 Parliamentary inquiry into menopause found GPs have limited knowledge and perimenopause and menopause and are often unable to recognise symptoms.
Boosting healthcare education and knowledge, along with empowering women to advocate for their own health, should help to address this.
More clinics to address endometriosis and pelvic pain
What: 11 new clinics dedicated to endometriosis and pelvic pain will be opened, along with 33 existing clinics receiving more staff to provide specialist support for menopause
When: an unspecified date after the federal election. The coalition has vowed to match these initiatives if elected.
Why: endometriosis affects around one in 7 Australian women by age 44–49, often leading to severe pelvic pain, fertility issues, irritable bowel syndrome or mental health issues. Yet despite advancements in medicines and surgical treatments, there is still a high rate of recurrence.
A Victorian inquiry into women's pain and health also found that the pain women experience is often overlooked.
Impact: through more healthcare avenues, women can benefit from improved access to diagnostic, treatment and referral services for endometriosis and pelvic pain.
The announcement will break down barriers to healthcare access, especially in regional, rural and remote areas, reflecting the recommendations and work of the National Women’s Health Council, said A/Prof Sim, who co-chairs the Access, Care and Outcomes Subcommittee.
‘These are the recommendations our Council has been calling for,’ she added.
A summary of these announcements is below:
| What | When | Detail |
| Listing of two additional oral contraceptive pills on the PBS | 1 March 2025 | Yaz and Yasmin will be listed on the PBS as unrestricted benefits |
| Listing of three additional menopausal hormone therapies on PBS | 1 March 2025 | Estrogel, Prometrium and Estrogel Pro will be listed on the PBS as unrestricted benefits |
| Pharmacy trials of OCP prescribing and treating uncomplicated UTIs | Early 2026* | Free-of-charge UTI and OCP consultations in community pharmacies for concession card holders, with prescribed medicines available via the PBS |
| Increased access to long-term contraceptives | Unknown* | Increased rebates and new Medicare rebates for IUD and hormonal implant insertions. Eight training centres to be established to increase clinician skill and confidence |
| Medicare support for menopause | From 1 July 2025 | New Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments Training, guidelines and a public awareness campaign will also be developed |
| Additional endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics | Unknown* | 11 new clinics (in addition to 33 currently existing) dedicated to endometriosis and pelvic pain |
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[post_content] => As the 47th annual Mardi Gras lights up Sydney this weekend, here’s how pharmacists can build trust and champion inclusive healthcare.
The history of LGBTQIA+ discrimination has had a profound impact on how people from this community access healthcare today. Centuries of systemic exclusion and stigma have created significant barriers to equitable healthcare, continuing to shape healthcare policies, provider attitudes, and patient experiences.
The majority of the LGBTQIA+ community accesses mainstream primary care and health services.
But many will experience discrimination or prejudice from health professionals when seeking care, said Rainbow Pharmacist Professor Lisa Nissen FPS, Director, Health Workforce Optimisation, Centre for Business and Economics of Health at the University of Queensland.
‘This can range from assuming certain aspects of behaviour based on their appearance, showing judgement about their sexual practice or being non-inclusive of partners in conversations,’ she said.
‘Most will have faced some forms of discrimination, harassment or homophobia in their daily life and will be looking for environmental cues in the health setting that it is a safe and accepting environment.’
What could LGBTQIA+ discrimination look like in a pharmacy setting?
Discrimination happens when, for example, a patient presents a Medicare card with their birth name on it, however the pharmacist knows that as a transgender person they identify by another preferred name – which has been written on the script by the prescriber, said Prof Nissen.
‘Choosing, on purpose, to call out their birth name and label their medicines by that name, rather than confirming their preferred name and labelling their medicine [accordingly] would be discriminatory and offensive to that person,’ she said.
Microaggressions are also commonplace. For example, when discussing the oral contraceptive pill for hormone regulation with a lesbian patient, assuming they have a male partner or asking, ‘Do you have a boyfriend?’ can be exclusionary and dismissive of their identity.
Other examples of microaggressions include:
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[post_date] => 2025-02-24 11:52:46
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-24 00:52:46
[post_content] => Reporting additional patient information when administering vaccines will soon be required for all vaccination providers.
Here’s why it matters and how to comply.
What’s changing?
Under various regulations, pharmacists must report vaccines administered to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
Changes to the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 mean it is mandatory for all vaccination providers to report the administration of COVID-19, influenza, National Immunisation Program (NIP) and Japanese encephalitis virus vaccines to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), a Department of Health and Aged Care spokesperson told Australian Pharmacist.
‘Legislative changes mean … it will be mandatory for all vaccination providers to report to AIR information about whether an individual was pregnant at the time of vaccine administration,’ said the spokesperson.
When does this change come into effect?
The new mandatory reporting requirements apply from Saturday, 1 March 2025.
What’s the reason for the change?
The Department of Health and Aged Care spokesperson said that the collection of antenatal data is important as it ensures that AIR contains a complete and reliable dataset to enable the monitoring of:
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[post_date] => 2025-02-19 11:00:49
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[post_content] => The popular weight-loss drug has been approved to treat cardiovascular disease in patients who are overweight or obese.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval is based on results from the SELECT double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial – a global study conducted in 41 countries, including Australia, with over 17,000 participants.
Australian Pharmacist spoke with Professor Stephen Nicholls, lead of the Australian arm of the SELECT trial, about the significance of this new indication and what pharmacists need to know.
What impact does a Wegovy have on cardiovascular risk?
It has been well known for many years that being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for heart disease, said Prof Nicholls.
[caption id="attachment_28714" align="alignnone" width="700"] Professor Stephen Nicholls[/caption]
‘And in people who have had a heart attack, the presence of overweight or obesity is associated with a worse risk of having another event – but there's nothing specifically that we've been able to do for these people.’
For decades, clinical trials for weight loss drugs have shown no benefit in reducing cardiovascular risk in these patients.
‘But here you have a trial where we specifically targeted people who were overweight, and it reduced their risk,’ he said.
Participants in the SELECT trial had cardiovascular disease, overweight or obesity, but without diabetes, said Professor Stephen Nicholls.
‘The trial found that giving them semaglutide reduced their risk of having another event by 20%,’ he said. ‘That's a game changer – both for the drug and the field.’
What makes a patient eligible for Wegovy for cardiovascular disease?
The new TGA indication for Wegovy is as a complementary therapy for reducing major adverse cardiovascular events such as cardiovascular death, heart attack, or non-fatal stroke in adults with:
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[post_date] => 2025-02-17 12:51:26
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-17 01:51:26
[post_content] => Checking a patient's photo identification (ID) can be both a useful – and mandatory – practice.
Australian Pharmacist explores the instances where minimum practice and legal obligations require pharmacists to verify photo ID.
Signing a statutory declaration as a witness
Under the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2023 and various state/territory regulations, pharmacists are approved to witness a Commonwealth statutory declaration.
The Statutory Declarations Act 1959 contains surprisingly little guidance on the responsibility of a witness. While the Act does not require witnesses to confirm a declarant’s identity or validity of their statement, there is an expectation witnesses are confident the person making the declaration is not acting fraudulently or under coercion.
Whether to increase confidence in a person’s identity, allay doubts or improve workflow, if the declarant is not known to them, pharmacists should request photo ID – or may choose to refuse to witness the Commonwealth statutory declaration altogether.
This approach also helps with consistency, as different types of declarations have different identity verification requirements. For example, in Victoria, the Oaths and Affirmations Act 2018 says a witness must not sign a statutory declaration unless the authorised witness has taken reasonable steps to ensure the declarant is the person named in the statutory declaration.
If the witness doesn’t know the declarant personally, the quickest and most reliable form of proof is always likely to be photo ID.
Signing a patient up for Active Script Lists
Following the implementation of the Active Script List (ASL) functionality, the Active Script List Release 1 – Privacy Framework was released in May 2021 – requiring pharmacists to verify a patient’s identity for ASL registration.
To confirm a patient's identity, pharmacists are legally required to check both a current government-issued photo ID and a Medicare or Department of Veteran Affairs card.
If the patient doesn't have a photo ID, pharmacists can either verify 100 points of other ID (along with their Medicare or DVA card) – or apply the ‘known patient model’.
The threshold for the ‘known patient model’ may surprise you. The patient must already be familiar to the individual pharmacist and have had at least four prescriptions filled in their name at that pharmacy in the past year.
Prescribing pseudoephedrine
Due to the potential for misuse, in most jurisdictions, pharmacists are required to sight or record certain details when prescribing medicines containing pseudoephedrine as Pharmacist Only medicines – including identity verification.
But the requirements vary from state to state.
For example in South Australia, pharmacists must not supply pseudoephedrine unless patients provide a form of photo ID or their birth certificate.
In NSW, the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 requires pharmacists to record a unique reference number, the supplier’s name, the patient’s name and address, and the product name, strength, quantity, and supply date. Importantly, if the recipient’s identity is unknown, pharmacists must record the unique reference number of a form of photo ID. And the implications of failing to do so are dire – resulting in up to 20 penalty units, 3 months' imprisonment – or both.
Establishing patient identity for enrolment in opioid dependence therapy
Critical to patient safety in opioid dependence therapy is correct identification, as administering a dose to the wrong patient can lead to a fatal overdose.
Positive patient identification is critical to validating someone’s identity accurately when establishing a person in the program, particularly when biometric data is collected.
Biometric identification systems, such as iris scanning, can be helpful in pharmacotherapy programs such as opioid dependence treatment for verifying patient identity, reducing the risk of diversion and dramatically streamlining workflow.
Photo identification at the time of establishing the profile can be valuable in supporting this. Most jurisdictions also have workaround options to establish patient identity (e.g. photo of patient signed by the prescriber) where photo identification is not available.
Dispensing controlled drugs (S8)
If a patient is not known to a pharmacy or their Medicare card details are unspecified, asking for photo identification can be useful to confirm identity when dispensing controlled substances.
This can be helpful in establishing the prescription is for a real person and reduce the risk of someone accessing Controlled Drugs through impersonation.
While this will be normal practice for many pharmacists, some may be surprised at specific requirements in their state and territory poisons regulations.. For example, in:
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[post_author] => 3410
[post_date] => 2025-02-12 13:15:46
[post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-12 02:15:46
[post_content] => Over the weekend, the Albanese Government announced a $573 million commitment to national women’s health initiatives, to bipartisan support.
So what is actually happening? And when?
Australian Pharmacist takes a ‘deep dive’ to help pharmacists navigate these life-changing initiatives for women.
Two new oral contraceptive pills listed on the PBS
What: oral contraceptive pills (OCP) Yaz (drospirenone/Three new MHTs also set to be included on the PBS
What: the menopausal hormone therapies (MHTs) Estrogel (estradiol), Prometrium (progesterone) and Estrogel Pro (estragio/progesterone) will also be listed on the PBS – marking the first MHT listings in 20 years.
When: from 1 March 2025
Why: various MHTs, including strengths of Estalis (estradiol /norethisterone acetate) and Estradot (estradiol) transdermal patches, have been in short supply for months, forcing women to pay hundreds of dollars annually for substitutions under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act or newer, unsubsidised MHTs.
The TGA has also warned that supply shortages of some PBS-listed menopause treatments will persist throughout 2025.
PBAC recommended the listing of Prometrium, Estrogel and Estrogel Pro as General Schedule unrestricted benefit listings, with corresponding General Schedule restricted benefit listings for 60-day maximum dispensed quantities.
These new PBS subsidies also follow a 2024 Parliamentary Inquiry recommendation to make newer menopause therapies more affordable and accessible.
And because these medications match the body’s own hormones more closely, many women find they experience fewer or milder side effects compared to older therapies.
Impact: the new PBS subsidies mean women will soon be able to pay substantially less for modern menopause therapy – reducing the cost from around $650 per year to as little as $7.70 or $31.60 a month for around 150,000 women.
‘Prometrium, Estrogel and Estrogel Pro are all commonly used hormone replacement therapy,’ said PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS.
‘Having them on the PBS means they will be subsidised for women who need them, better supporting women experiencing perimenopause and menopause.’
A national approach for OCP access and treating uncomplicated UTIs directly from pharmacies
What: national OCP and urinary tract infection (UTI) pharmacy trials, allowing pharmacists to initiate PBS medicines for the first time ever.
When: early 2026. At this stage, these trials are part of Labor’s election platform, however the coalition has vowed to match this measure.
Why: the nation-wide trials are designed to boost access to treatment for uncomplicated UTIs and hormonal contraception through community pharmacists at PBS medicine cost.
Impact: around 250,000 concession cardholders will be able to consult a trained pharmacist free of charge. And if medication is required, they will only need to pay the standard cost of the medicine.
Enabling appropriately trained pharmacists to prescribe treatment for uncomplicated UTI and contraceptives under the PBS will allow for equitable, affordable healthcare for women and girls, said A/Prof Sim.
‘We all know that when experiencing symptoms of UTI, timely treatment is critical,’ she said.
Previously, when prescribing and management of these acute conditions were undertaken, patients often faced additional out-of-pocket costs to see a pharmacist versus a GP.
‘[Allowing] pharmacists to prescribe treatment under the PBS means there is no discrimination with care,’ she added.
Widened access to long-term contraceptives at a lower cost
When: unknown at this stage. The coalition has vowed to match this measure.
Why: only 6% of Australian women use an Intrauterine device (IUD), with 5% opting for the contraceptive implant – partly due to a lack of awareness about these options.
Access is further impacted by difficulties finding trained GPs, coupled with long waiting times, for insertions.
While a slight Medicare rebate increase was introduced in 2022, it doesn’t cover the costs and time required for IUD insertion – discouraging many GPs from offering the service. The high cost of training also makes it challenging for GPs to gain the necessary qualifications.
Impact: the new women’s health package improves access to IUDs and implants by increasing clinician rebates and introducing Medicare coverage for nurse practitioner insertions. It also incentivises GPs to bulk bill insertions, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for women. Eight training centers will also be established across Australia to enhance clinician skills and confidence in IUD insertion.
‘This should make it more affordable and much easier for women to find a clinician to insert it,’ said Danielle Mazza, Director, SPHERE NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care.
New Medicare support for menopause
What: a new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments
When: from 1 July 2025
It is unclear when funding to train health professionals, a first-ever clinical guideline for menopause and a national awareness campaign will be introduced. But the coalition has vowed to follow through with these initiatives if reelected.
Why: as one caller to 774 ABC Radio Melbourne put it this week, ‘women are just used to putting up with stuff.’
‘I've always had the feeling that once you hit 65, once supposedly you’ve had your kids and you've helped a bit with the grandchildren that basically medically you're just forgotten,’ the caller continued.
The menopause initiative should help to shift that narrative, designed to support women experiencing menopause and perimenopause to receive appropriate care from their GP, and help to ensure informed conversations with trained healthcare professionals.
Impact: a 2024 Parliamentary inquiry into menopause found GPs have limited knowledge and perimenopause and menopause and are often unable to recognise symptoms.
Boosting healthcare education and knowledge, along with empowering women to advocate for their own health, should help to address this.
More clinics to address endometriosis and pelvic pain
What: 11 new clinics dedicated to endometriosis and pelvic pain will be opened, along with 33 existing clinics receiving more staff to provide specialist support for menopause
When: an unspecified date after the federal election. The coalition has vowed to match these initiatives if elected.
Why: endometriosis affects around one in 7 Australian women by age 44–49, often leading to severe pelvic pain, fertility issues, irritable bowel syndrome or mental health issues. Yet despite advancements in medicines and surgical treatments, there is still a high rate of recurrence.
A Victorian inquiry into women's pain and health also found that the pain women experience is often overlooked.
Impact: through more healthcare avenues, women can benefit from improved access to diagnostic, treatment and referral services for endometriosis and pelvic pain.
The announcement will break down barriers to healthcare access, especially in regional, rural and remote areas, reflecting the recommendations and work of the National Women’s Health Council, said A/Prof Sim, who co-chairs the Access, Care and Outcomes Subcommittee.
‘These are the recommendations our Council has been calling for,’ she added.
A summary of these announcements is below:
| What | When | Detail |
| Listing of two additional oral contraceptive pills on the PBS | 1 March 2025 | Yaz and Yasmin will be listed on the PBS as unrestricted benefits |
| Listing of three additional menopausal hormone therapies on PBS | 1 March 2025 | Estrogel, Prometrium and Estrogel Pro will be listed on the PBS as unrestricted benefits |
| Pharmacy trials of OCP prescribing and treating uncomplicated UTIs | Early 2026* | Free-of-charge UTI and OCP consultations in community pharmacies for concession card holders, with prescribed medicines available via the PBS |
| Increased access to long-term contraceptives | Unknown* | Increased rebates and new Medicare rebates for IUD and hormonal implant insertions. Eight training centres to be established to increase clinician skill and confidence |
| Medicare support for menopause | From 1 July 2025 | New Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments Training, guidelines and a public awareness campaign will also be developed |
| Additional endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics | Unknown* | 11 new clinics (in addition to 33 currently existing) dedicated to endometriosis and pelvic pain |
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Australian Pharmacist is the official journal for Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Ltd.
