Friday 24th April 2009

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Pharmacy Daily Friday 24th April 2009 T 1300 799 220 W www.pharmacydaily.com.au page 1

NT Super ClinicNT Super ClinicNT Super ClinicNT Super ClinicNT Super Clinic THETHETHETHETHE Federal govt will provide$10m for the construction of thePalmerston GP Super Clinic on theoutskirts of Darwin, with the projectalso set to include a new federallyfunded Early Learning IntegratedChild Care Centre. The NT government has let atender for the construction of theclinic which it says is a “significantpriority” for people in the region. Stage 1 of the Palmerston GPSuper Clinic opened last Dec and isproviding Urgent After Hours GPservices to the community, havingseen more than 3700 patients overthe last five months.

British BonjelBritish BonjelBritish BonjelBritish BonjelBritish Bonjela ala ala ala ala alertertertertert THETHETHETHETHE UK Medicines andHealthcare products RegulatoryAgency has issued “precautionaryadvice” about the use of topicaloral pain relief gels containingsalicylate salts. The MHRA said the mainproducts affected are Bonjela andBonjela Cool Mint Gel, usually usedas an aid to teething in babies andfor the treatment of mouth ulcers. The new advice recommends thatthe products not be used in peopleunder 16 years of age, becausesalicylate salts have the same effecton the body as aspirin, which isalready contraindicated in childrenand young people aged under 16. “This is a precautionary measureonly and there are no new safetyconcerns,” a statement said. The MHRA said there was atheoretical risk that the productscould increase the possibility of achild developing the rare butsometimes fatal Reye’s syndrome. “We are not aware of anyconfirmed cases, but when thereare alternatives available, any risk isnot worth taking,” the MHRA saidin a statement. “There are a number of optionsand alternative treatments for painassociated with teething and mouthulcers,” the agency added, urgingparents and carers to consult theirpharmacist, GP or dentist forfurther advice.

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Erbitux rErbitux rErbitux rErbitux rErbitux rejected againejected againejected againejected againejected again THETHETHETHETHE Pharmaceutical BenefitsAdvisory Committee has knockedback Merck Serono’s fifthapplication to have its Erbitux(cetuximab) subsidised for third linebowel cancer treatment. The rejection is on the grounds of“cost effectiveness.” The therapy targets about 65% ofAustralians living with late-stagebowel cancer, and has been shownto provide extended survival ratesby slowing down the growth oftumours in patients carrying aparticular form of the K-ras gene. Bowel cancer is the second mostcommon form of cancer in thecommunity, with the latest AIHWfigures showing about 13,000 newcases a year.

GuarGuarGuarGuarGuardddddian knittersian knittersian knittersian knittersian knitters GUGUGUGUGUARDIANARDIANARDIANARDIANARDIAN Pharmacy’s nationalcharity knitting campaign GuardianAngel has formed a newpartnership with The SalvationArmy which will see garmentsknitted by participants passed ontothe Salvos for distribution toAustralians in need. Last year 385,000 knitted itemswere created and donated throughGuardian Angel which invitesknitters of all levels to hone theirskills to help the community. Spotlight is also a new partner ofthe campaign, supplying patternsand wool discounts for participants.

Diabetes diagnosisDiabetes diagnosisDiabetes diagnosisDiabetes diagnosisDiabetes diagnosis DIABETESDIABETESDIABETESDIABETESDIABETES charity The Type 1Diabetes Network says that 33% ofadults presenting with type 1diabetes were diagnosed incorrectlywhen they first visited theirhealthcare professional. The organisation said the“widespread misagnosis...isresulting in serious, life threateningbut avoidable complications.” The Network is celebrating thefifth anniversary of the launch of itsStarter Kit, a resource createdespecially for newly diagnosedadults with Type 1 diabetes andsupported by Abbott Diabetes Care.

TGA to boost OTTGA to boost OTTGA to boost OTTGA to boost OTTGA to boost OTC, CH feesC, CH feesC, CH feesC, CH feesC, CH fees THETHETHETHETHE Complementary HealthcareCouncil has slammed a decision bythe Therapeutic GoodsAdministration which will see annualfees and charges for complementarymedicines rise a whopping 14.3%in 2009/10. The council says the move will seeconsumers “paying more for popularsupplements designed to assist themwith improved health outcomes,”claiming that the 14.3% increase isan “arbitrary number” proposed bythe TGA, based on its overall costrecovery obligations rather than thespecific costs associated with CMs. TGA fees for over the countermedicines will also increase by

more than 13%, while costs forprescription medicines will rise byjust over 6% on average. The TGA’s draft Cost RecoveryImpact Statement, which shows theeffect of the increases once they’reapproved by ParliamentarySecretary for Health and Ageing,Senator Jan McLucas, shows thatthe organisation expects to collect$9.3m from the complementarymedicines industry - about 9% ofthe total cost recovery of $102m. The TGA is forecasting a $1mnet cost recovery deficit for 09/10.

Friday 24th April 2009

Pharmacy Daily Thursday 2nd April 2009 T 1300 799 220 W www.pharmacydaily.com.au page 2Pharmacy Daily Friday 24th April 2009 T 1300 799 220 W www.pharmacydaily.com.au page 2

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$88,000 in prizes for Syd$88,000 in prizes for Syd$88,000 in prizes for Syd$88,000 in prizes for Syd$88,000 in prizes for Sydney pharney pharney pharney pharney pharmacy studmacy studmacy studmacy studmacy studentsentsentsentsents MOREMOREMOREMOREMORE than $88,000 has beenawarded to the highest achievingstudents at the University ofSydney’s Facluty of Pharmacyduring a special awardsceremony held earlier this month. The prizes were given inconjunction with pharmaceuticalcompanies and professionalpharmacy organisations. Representatives from thePharmaceutical Society ofAustralia, the Society of HospitalPharmacists of Australia, AmgenAustralia, Blackmores and GuildInsurance awarded prizes to high-performing students in theBachelor of Pharmacy, Master ofPharmacy and Master of HerbalMedicines courses offered by theuniversity. Sydney University Deputy Vice-Chancellor(Education), Professor Derrick Armstrong hailed theeducational experience provided by the pharmacyfaculty for its students, such as its innovativebusiness skills course and the SUPA careerenhancement program. “Initiatives like these set the Faculty apart from itscompetitors and put it at the forefront of excellencein education whilst providing a valuable studentexperience for pharmacy students. “To have students winning awards fromprestigious national organisations is testament tothe quality of their education at the Faculty, theirown hard work and the support of Faculty staff inturning these students into competent youngprofessionals,” Armstrong said. PPPPPicturicturicturicturicture abovee abovee abovee abovee above are six Bachelor and Master ofPharmacy students awarded prizes by the PSA, fromleft: Jenny Zhang, Romeo Torres, Mely, SuzanneOlding, Lisa Sommerfield and Mona Abdelnour. And at right, Suzanne Olding receives the goldmedal from PSA NSW ceo Steven Drew.

CondCondCondCondCondom controm controm controm controm controversyoversyoversyoversyoversy PHARMAPHARMAPHARMAPHARMAPHARMACISTSCISTSCISTSCISTSCISTS in the NorthernTerritory have downplayed reportsof a proposal which would forcemandatory reporting of condomsales by people aged under 15. Earlier this week the ABCreported comments by the NTMnister for Child Protectionconfirming that new underage sexlaws would force the reporting to ateam which is part of the NTFamilies and Children Department. A range of organisationsincluding the AMA and other groupshave pointed out major flaws in theproposal, including the fact thatcondoms are also sold in vendingmachines and supermarkets.

“Exer“Exer“Exer“Exer“Exercise pilcise pilcise pilcise pilcise pilllllls” fors” fors” fors” fors” fortype 2 diabetes?type 2 diabetes?type 2 diabetes?type 2 diabetes?type 2 diabetes? SCIENTISTSSCIENTISTSSCIENTISTSSCIENTISTSSCIENTISTS at Melbourne’sHeart and Diabetes Institute havepublished research suggesting thatHDL cholesterol could be used tocontrol blood sugar by simulatingthe effect of exercise on muscles. The report in Circulation saidHDL activates a ‘switch’ whichcaused glucose to be absorbed intomuscle cells, and raised thepossibility of developing so-called“exercise pills” to treat diabetes. The research involved a clinicaltrial of 13 diabetes patients, and isthe first time the link between HDLand blood sugar has been proven.

HERE’SHERE’SHERE’SHERE’SHERE’S a good way to boost youracademic performance. US researchers have found thatstudents who chewed gum during14 weeks of maths classes endedup with higher grades thanstudents in the class who didn’tchew gum. 108 students in four classes at aHouston, Texas school werestudied, with half given sugar-freegum to chew during class, testsand homework. After 14 weeks the gum chewersshowed a 3% increase in standardtest scores which the scientistssaid was a “small but statisticallysignificant change.” The study, which was funded bychewing gum maker Wrigleys, issure put school cleaners into alarge number of sticky situations.

THETHETHETHETHE good news is your asthma iscured - but the bad news is you’regoing to be itchy forever. A British study of mice hasshown a link between liceinfestations and immunity, withrodents carrying the heaviest loadof parasites having “calmer”immune systems than those whichwere uninfested. They postulated that dealingwith pediculosis could actuallyhelp stimulate the immune system. The University of Nottinghamresearchers said the finding couldhave implications for allergies inhumans, supporting the so-called‘hygiene hypothesis’ which statesthat an “ultra-clean” lifestyle is thecause of the rise in the conditionsin the community.

A USA USA USA USA US man has lost over 6kg inweight by eating a pureMcDonald’s diet for a month. 40-year-old Doug Logeais ofSan Diego ate sausage and eggburritos for breakfast, chickenwraps for lunch and salads fordinner, and combined the specialdiet with regular exercise. “I thought if I could actually eatat McDonald’s and lose weight I’dincorporate the best of bothworlds,” he said. He said he exercised hard too,with an hour of cardio each day“and a lot of sit-ups as well”.