September 2023

A MEDSAFE COMMITTEE says opioid-based dry cough syrups and lozenges, including some Difflam, Duro-Tuss and Pholcodine Linctus products, should be banned, and the ministry of health agrees.

Kia ora

The University of Waikato is planning on opening a new pharmacy school, despite falling numbers of pharmacy students nationwide. Natasha Jojoa Burling reports

Two months after copayments were dropped from most medicines, many still don’t know about it, and pharmacists are calling for Te Whatu Ora to do more advertising. Natasha Jojoa Burling reports

As hospital emergency departments are overwhelmed by a record influx of patients this winter, pharmacists are calling for the minorailments scheme to be expanded. Jonathan Chilton-Towle reports

PHARMAC IS PREPARING to fund more brands of the hormone replacement treatment oestradiol in response to an ongoing supply shortage

From April next year, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and cultural safety will be of central importance in the standards pharmacists are expected to maintain.

Natasha Jojoa Burling explores the emerging field of pharmacogenetics and what it might mean for pharmacy in New Zealand

There’s a renewed call for pharmacy technicians to be registered in New Zealand. Registration is mandatory in the Cook Islands and the UK, but not in this country. 

Pharmacy student Mitchell Wong canvases his fellow students on how university life is shaping up. This month he profiles Faith Asovale Tanuvasa