A better drug deal for Australians

'Cutting a better drug deal', a report released by the Grattan Institute, shows Australians are paying up to five times the price for a group of seven commonly prescribed drugs.

How fake drugs end up in our public health system (and how to spot them)

We do not have a strong sense of how many counterfeit drugs are in the public health system and if you are relying on medication to support your health, you want it to work.

Codeine will be script-only from 2018

"It's important that people realise that the decision's been taken based on safety predominantly and based on the risk of abuse," Dr Tim Greenaway said.

Cadexomer Iodine and Biofilms

Anyone managing a chronic wound will know that some wounds take longer to heal than expected, and one reason for this may be the presence of biofilm bacteria, which prolongs the inflammatory response and thus prolongs healing.1 Biofilms present several practical problems: they are not visible to the naked eye, swab results are unhelpful, and because the bacteria are protected by an extracellular matrix antibiotics and antiseptics are generally unhelpful in removing them.

Feeding Vs. Eating

Work Stress? 3 Ways to Beat Common Traps

Hunched over, hardly moving for hours on end, hitting the same buttons again and again in the hope of a future reward … sound familiar? It does to Selena Bartlett, from the Queensland University of Technology.

Could thalidomide have a future?

The drug thalidomide has a notorious past. It was used between 1957-62 as a sedative and to treat morning sickness in early pregnancy but a serious side effect resulted in over 10,000 children born with severe birth defects.

Nov 16-22 Antibiotics: handle with care

Antibiotics must be used at the right time, in the right dose, for the right length of time, and for the right reason. These are among the important messages in Antibiotic Awareness Week 2015.

Infection Control is in the hands of our patients

For the Spring 2015 issue of Australian Hospital and Healthcare Bulletin we have discovered an industry-wide leaning towards involving patients in their own care, from infection control, hospital design, meal planning and through the monitoring of their own health via smart technology and wearables.

Gene Therapy Success for Cystic Fibrosis Lung Function

Research from the UK has shown the improvement of lung function of Cystic Fibrosis patients through the use of gene therapy in a two year trial, according to The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

UPDATE: Dental Infection Control Breaches Exposes 10,000+ Patients to HIV and Hepatitis

A chain of Sydney dental practices has been found in breach of infection control practices including cleaning and sterilisation. The Gentle Dentist clinics in Campsie and Sussex Street in Sydney’s CBD; Surry Hills and Bondi Junction are listed with Aids Council of New South Wales (ACON) as a provider of  "HIV-friendly" bulk-billed dental work.

A Patient Perspective of Diagnostic Imaging: The Right to Access

Diagnostic imaging has changed the face of medicine in the field of diagnosis and treatment. What began with the humble X-Ray has expanded to include modalities such as Ultrasound, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and most recently nuclear medicine examinations such as the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan. Millions of Australian patients access diagnostic imaging services each year for a whole myriad conditions, ranging from a broken bone to cancer diagnosis and treatment monitoring. It is therefore no surprise that diagnostic imaging is at the forefront of early diagnosis and early treatment of many conditions which if left undetected would not be treatable.

Viral Video Encourages Testicular Cancer Checks

An X-rated video campaign encouraging men to check for testicular campaign has been viewed over half a million times, in a cheeky Game of Thrones parody entitled Game of Balls. It was produced by Australian charity Blue Ball Foundation.

PSA Excellence Awards Accepting Nominations Now

Nominations for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia prestigious Awards for Excellence, recognised widely as the pharmacy profession’s most sought-after awards, are now open.

NSW and Sydney Hospital Patients Satisfaction Levels Down

A quarterly report detailing feedback from patients about New South Wales' hospitals' performance has been released, and the results are not as positive as in the past, with increasing demand and patients with more severe illnesses and injuries leaving less satisfied.