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Council News June 2024
Council Message
Welcome to the second edition of the Pharmacy Council of NSW newsletter for 2024.
This is my last newsletter as Council president and member of the Pharmacy Council.
The experience has been both challenging and rewarding. Leading the Council has been an honour, and I am totally confident that I leave the Council in capable hands.
May I take this opportunity to extend my thanks to all HPCA staff for their invaluable support and utmost dedication. They are instrumental in our collective success.
Veronica Murdoch
President, Pharmacy Council of NSW
Concerns raised over emerging models of care
The emergence of services designed solely to provide customers with access to a predetermined medicine raises concerns that some practitioners may be putting profit ahead of patient welfare.
For more information, see Ahpra's news item here: Concerns raised over emerging models of care
Joint statement on professional responsibilities for prescribing and dispensing medicines
A joint statement has been released by Ahpra and the Medical, Pharmacy and Nursing and Midwifery Boards of Australia reminding practitioners of their duty of care when providing prescriptions of any kind, whether it be in-person or via telehealth.
NSW Pharmacy Quarterly Stakeholder Forum
The Council continues to interact with stakeholders, with the most recent Pharmacy Stakeholder Forum held on 22 March 2024. Throughout 2023, the key pharmacy stakeholder agencies have developed various resources to support pharmacists with their professional practice and the safe, effective delivery of services in the profession.
The next forum will be hosted by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia on 21 June 2024.
Connection, collaboration and learning at inaugural HPCA and NSW Councils Conference
Friday 12 April saw the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) and NSW Heath Professional Councils (the Councils) successfully deliver their first joint all Councils Conference. A diverse collection of speakers and panellists across health regulation came together in Sydney to discuss and explore the latest regulatory themes, challenges and opportunities in the NSW co-regulatory landscape.
“Thank you to all presenters, panel members and attendees for participating in the inaugural HPCA and NSW Councils Conference, and to everyone involved in making this event a success. The opportunities provided by this conference to engage with a broad range of stakeholders will surely assist us in maintaining public safety and confidence in the practice of regulated professions in NSW,” said Ameer Tadros, Director, HPCA.
Treatments for UTIs: information for pharmacists
The Council is pleased that the NSW Government has made the urinary tract infections (UTI) Pharmacy Trial permanent. The clinical trial allowing participating pharmacies to provide treatment for uncomplicated UTIs ended on 31 May 2024. The University of Newcastle is undertaking an independent evaluation of the data collected from the trial. Trial outcomes will be shared as they become available in 2025.
From 1 June 2024, treatment for uncomplicated UTIs can be provided at any eligible NSW pharmacy. Pharmacists can find more information about providing UTI treatment on the information for pharmacists.
To provide this service, pharmacists and pharmacies must meet the requirements of and operate in accordance with:
- The Authority allowing participating pharmacists to supply medications (UTI), and
- The NSW pharmacist practice standards for use of antibiotics to treat UTI.
In addition to the above, the Council also reminds pharmacists to have regard to certain requirements under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods legislation including:
NSW Pharmacy Trial for pharmacists prescribing medication
The NSW Pharmacy trial allows appropriately trained pharmacists to provide important medications and treatments, which are usually only available with a prescription.
The trial is run by the University of Newcastle in association with the University of Technology Sydney, Macquarie University, University of New England, Charles Sturt University, The George Institute for Global Health and the Hunter Medical Research Institute.
The trial will ensure patient safety is promoted while allowing for the gathering of robust data. The findings from this trial will inform the role of pharmacists and pharmacies in our healthcare system.
As part of the NSW Pharmacy trial participating pharmacists:
- can continue a prescription for the resupply of a low-risk oral contraceptive pill for women aged from 18 to 35 years (inclusive) that meet eligibility criteria - from September 2023 until September 2024
- will be able to supply certain treatments to eligible patients for minor skin conditions, including herpes zoster (shingles), impetigo (school sores), atoptic dermatitis (eczema) and mild plaque psoriasis – coming in June 2024
- were able to supply certain treatments for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) to eligible women aged from 18 to 65 years (inclusive) – closed as of 31 May 2024.
Advice in relation to "Safescript NSW"
SafeScript NSW is a real-time prescription monitoring and approval management system, which has been available for use by NSW prescribers and pharmacists since May 2022.
It allows prescribers and pharmacists to access real-time information about their patient’s prescription history for certain high-risk medicines, known as monitored medicines, as well as offering an online solution for prescribers to manage applications for approvals to prescribe and/or supply these medicines. This information helps prescribers and pharmacists to make safer clinical decisions, improves compliance and reduces the incidence of harm, including death, from the unsafe use of monitored medicines.
SafeScript NSW has the potential to help save lives and reduce unsafe use of monitored medicines in the community. While the use of SafeScript NSW is not mandatory, all practising prescribers and pharmacists in NSW are encouraged to use the system. For Information regarding SafeScript please review What is SafeScript NSW? - Health practitioners
The Council recommends all Pharmacists are familiar with the Pharmacy Board of Australia (Board) Guidelines on practice-specific issues. These guidelines address various pharmacy practice matters, including those which relate to specific services provided by some pharmacists or at some pharmacies. Particular reference is made to drugs of abuse.
A pharmacist supplying potential drugs of abuse to a patient must comply with all relevant state or territory, and Commonwealth legislation, the Board’s Guidelines for dispensing of medicines and established practice standards and guidelines.
REMINDER: Annual requirements
If you are a NSW pharmacy owner and/or hold an interest in a NSW pharmacy business on 30 April 2024, you must have by 30 June 2024:
- completed a declaration of your financial interest in a pharmacy business and pay the declaration fee ($297 for each pharmacy business): and
- ensured the annual renewal of registration of your pharmacy premises is paid.
As at 5 June Council has received a total of 1182 annual declarations with only 863 declarations yet to be completed. Our appreciation to all those who have completed declarations and a reminder to those as yet to complete their declaration to do so by 30 June.
Of the 2014 pharmacies ,1380 pharmacies have also renewed their registration for the coming year which is again greatly appreciated. There are only 634 pharmacies who had as at 5 June not completed the renewal of their pharmacy premises.
We appreciate everyone’s efforts this year and continue to work on making the annual requirement process as simple and easy as possible. For pharmacy proprietors yet to complete the process we would ask that you do so as quickly as possible.
Message from NSW Ministry of Health
NSW Health winter respiratory campaign
The 2024 influenza season has begun, with activity expected to continue increasing rapidly over the next 6 to 8 weeks. COVID-19 activity is currently at high levels and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity continues to be high. Pneumonia in children has increased since December 2023 and remains elevated, particularly in children aged 5-16 years and young adults aged 17-34. It is anticipated that a large number of people will be infected with COVID-19, influenza and/or RSV this winter, as all three viruses will be circulating at the same time. Please see the NSW respiratory surveillance report and media release for more information.
How can pharmacies prepare?
Pharmacies can plan ahead by:
- Replenishing rapid antigen tests stock.
- Replenishing oral COVID-19 antivirals stock. COVID-19 antiviral medicines remain accessible through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for eligible people.
- Continuing to offer annual influenza vaccination to individuals 5 years and above.
- National Immunisation Program (NIP) influenza vaccines can be ordered from the NSW Vaccine Centre.
- Under the National Immunisation Program Vaccinations in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) Program, pharmacists are now funded to provide off-site administration of vaccines at residential aged care facilities and disability homes.
- Please refer to ATAGI’s COVID-19 vaccination advice and ATAGI’s seasonal influenza vaccination advice for information on latest recommendations.
Antibiotic treatment for mycoplasma pneumoniae
The current rise in mycoplasma pneumoniae infections has resulted in an increase in demand for antibiotic oral liquids including azithromycin and clarithromycin. This may result in increased prescriptions and these medicines being in short supply. The suppliers are working to expedite future shipments. Please consider your pharmacy’s current availability and future orders to meet these needs. In the event that a patient presents a prescription of a medicine that is unavailable, we ask you communicate with the prescribers to obtain a prescription for an alternate formulation or antibiotic.
NSW Health’s key respiratory illness campaign messages
NSW Health will be updating communication to promote the following messages to the community:
- Stay up to date with your recommended flu and COVID-19 vaccinations
- Stay home if you are sick and wear a mask if you need to leave home
- Get together outdoors or in large, well-ventilated spaces with open doors and windows
- Avoid crowded spaces
- Consider doing a rapid antigen test (RAT) before visiting people at higher risk of severe illness
- Practice good hand hygiene, including regular handwashing
- Talk with your doctor now if you are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or influenza to make a plan about what to do if you get sick, including what test to take, and discussing if you are eligible for antiviral medicines
- Don't visit people who are at higher risk of severe illness if you are sick or have tested positive to COVID-19 or influenza
Additional information and resources
The 2024 seasonal influenza vaccination information for immunisation providers, influenza vaccination provider toolkit and Pharmacist Vaccination Program are useful sites for more information. A range of 2024 Respiratory Illness Campaign resources are also available for use and for sharing with stakeholders, including resources for the general public, Aboriginal people and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. For more information, see the Respiratory illness: influenza (flu), COVID-19 and RSV webpage. Printable campaign materials are also available for order through the Better Health Centre.
Cold Chain Management
With the arrival of winter, and the ramping up of colds, flu and Covid within the community, vaccine services within community pharmacies will also become busier. The Pharmacy Council wishes to remind you of the requirements for managing cold chain products.
Vaccines, and other cold chain products are usually fragile, biological substances. If stored incorrectly, they can become less effective, or be destroyed if exposed to temperatures outside the recommended storage range.
The “cold chain” begins when the vaccine is made and ends when the vaccine is administered. The “Strive for 5” campaign promotes best practice in vaccine and temperature sensitive products storage.
Useful links
Pharmacy Council podcasts:
Episode 1: Keeping the public safe - What pharmacists need to know
Episode 2: The dangers of high-risk medications
Episode 3: The importance of proprietor oversight
Episode 4: Managing pharmacy workload
