A national trial (in Australia) has confirmed the benefits for patients when pharmacists intervene to ensure they are taking their medications appropriately.

Patients will be offered more choice and control over their healthcare with the launch of the first direct payment scheme, Care Services Minister Paul Burstow announced today.

In Ireland, 60% of people with asthma do not have their symptoms controlled. There are approximately 5000 asthma related hospital admissions every year in this country. The goal of the Asthma Society of Ireland is to reduce th ...

"The expected increase in the numbers of older people in the population in the years ahead will present great opportunities for Irish society", the Minister for Older People and Health Promotion, Áine Brady TD said today ...

The Finanical Times last week paid tribute to the late Sir Allen McClay - who famously described himself as the "world's worst pharmacist"

A new campaign to promote asthma control was launched by Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD. The campaign, a joint initiative between The Asthma Society of Ireland and the Irish Pharmacy Union, will encourage pati ...

New Standards to be met by Northern Ireland Pharmacy Premises Community pharmacy premises in Northern Ireland must now meet new levels of quality and public accessibility following the publication of Premises Standards by the P ...

The EMEA has extended the existing Xolair indication to paediatric patients from ages 6 to 12 years of age. Xolair is currently used as add-on therapy to improve the control of severe persistent allergic asthma in adult and ado ...

Adherence rates for medications vary greatly across different disease states, clinical settings, and populations. In general, adherence is not as high as healthcare professionals would prefer. This study looked at the relations ...

Ireland may be about to introduce prescription charges in the next budget. The Irish Pharmacy Union caution in regard to any attempt to introduce a prescription charge. The idea of a prescription charge was raised by the Minist ...

Roche recently announced that an analysis of the phase II BRAIN study of bevacizumab alone or in combination with irinotecan chemotherapy for the treatment of relapsed or progressive glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) demonstrated a ...

Roche recently announced that an analysis of the phase II BRAIN study of bevacizumab alone or in combination with irinotecan chemotherapy for the treatment of relapsed or progressive glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) demonstrated a ...

Cara Pharmacy, a progressive group of nine pharmacies in the North West counties, have made the move to McLernons. The group, owned and managed by Canice and Ramona Nicholas, was first established in 2000 with the purchase of t ...

There is not enough evidence to support using gels and creams containing rubefacients for chronic and acute pain, according to a systematic review by Cochrane Researchers, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Review ...

The Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD, recently announced the commencement of the outstanding Sections of the Pharmacy Act 2007 to provide for the introduction of a Complaints, Inquires and Discipline regime for ...

One in five Irish children aged between five and 12 years old is overweight or obese and the same figure is true for 13 to 17 year olds. The National Heart Alliance and Irish Heart Foundation continue to call for a ban on TV a ...

Every pharmacy needs stock. Without it, you can't dispense or sell merchandise. And yet, many of us do not taken stock seriously. We allow employees without purchasing skills to spend our bank balance. We appear to be immune to ...

Endometriosis is a disease steeped in controversies, surrounded by myths and taboos. Patient organisations and scientists remain under resourced in enabling awareness campaigns, basic research and improved treatments. It is a c ...

The October 2008 budget ended the arrangement whereby medical cards were automatically issued, without a means test to all those aged 70 years and over. A review group was set up to develop recommendations on how to achieve eco ...

The Diabetes Federation of Ireland is the national charity dedicated to providing support, education and motivation to all people affected by diabetes. The Federation also raises public awareness of diabetes and its symptoms an ...

It is important that pharmacists can signpost patients and their carers to self-help or patient groups. This helps the individual and family access critical information around their condition. Through Spotlight, CounterIntellig ...

In the second part of this series, Jacqui Dougan explores the principles of internal audit, an essential tool for any pharmacy practice. Most pharmacies probably observe improvements and minimise risks on a daily basis, but do ...

"Pharmacy Practice Guidance Manual" , self-audit tool for pharmacists and pharmacy owners was recently launched by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. Whilst this document is not intended to be a legal document, it sets out ...

Many Irish managers, entrepreneurs, executives and recent business studies graduates are making their minds up: is a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) a luxury or a necessity in the employment market of an economic downt ...

May was a tough month and our cover story in the last issue tried to bring some positivity to the scenario. Given that there is some breathing space in which to negotiate with the HSE, the light at the end of the tunnel belongs ...