+News

Times are changing in pharmacy and opinions are divided on whether a proposed shake-up of ownership rules will be for the better or for the worse. 

Pharmac has suspended sole supply and hospital sole supply status of Metoprolol Succinate, the heart medication at the centre of a nationwide shortage, allowing it to list new brands of the drug.
 

An emergency shipment of metoprolol succinate meant to ease supply pressures on the heart medication has been rendered unusable by exposure to heat on its way to New Zealand.

Good news for users of the heart drug metoprolol succinate after Pharmac announced new listings of the drug, which has been in short supply since the start of the year.  

Government discussion papers confirm the powers that be are going ahead with plans to scrap current rules around pharmacy ownership.

Pharmac is funding an alternative brand of metoprolol succinate to help rebuild New Zealand's supply of the heart medication following a worldwide shortage.

A small coalition of opponents to the Natural Health and Supplementary Products Bill has issued a legal challenge to the proposed legislation, although supporters of the bill are sceptical of whether such a challenge is even possible.

Pharmac has announced the heart medication metoprolol succinate will remain on monthly dispensing for "the foreseeable future", despite some claims it would be back on stat dispensing by March.

Head of Auckland's Pharmacy School, Julia Kennedy, has stepped down from her position to take an early retirement

Long-serving Wellington pharmacist Richard Allan has retired after 44 years on the job.