Community Pharmacy

Thought you could take a few minutes’ break? Think again. The pharmacy sector has been slammed after Auckland’s return to Alert Level 3 triggered a groundswell of patients stressing, stockpiling and scurrying to their nearest pharmacy to secure supplies

A government decision to distribute five million face masks to Countdown and various social agencies, but not pharmacies, is being described as a slap in the face for the pharmacy sector

DHBs recognise the fiscal challenges faced by community pharmacy and are poised to announce an independent review of pharmacy cost pressures and a commitment to developing and implementing a sustainable funding model
 

In a scene reminiscent of the pre-lockdown panic buying of late March, queues outside pharmacies began lengthening down the street as pharmacists scrambled to meet customer demand for dispensing and OTC products

From hitting “snooze” five times every morning to helping recovering addicts through addiction services, St Lukes Medical Pharmacy dispensary manager Edi Jayetileke answers Anna Lee’s questions about her day-to-day work “on the front line”

Unichem Tuakau has helped lead the charge on lifting vaccination rates, with the south Waikato pharmacy administering 900 flu vaccines so far – nearly five times last year’s total

Benee, one of New Zealand’s hottest young talents, knew who to turn to when she needed another ear piercing 

Pharmacy owners are aware of high levels of stress and dissatisfaction among early career pharmacists – some share that stress and some are calling for widespread change. But others are less sympathetic

The questionnaires have been distributed and the numbers crunched. Now results are in on how pharmacists on the shop floor are feeling – and it’s not good. Ruth Brown and Anna Lee report