March 2020

After more than two years of encouraging patients to be more thoughtful about plastic waste, a Wellington pharmacy estimates around four per cent of their customers are bringing back their bottles for reuse or recycling

Otago researchers have managed to ­enrol more than 1000 patients in their study into the health impacts of the $5 prescription fee.

The lobby group for OTC medicine makers is changing its name to better reflect its purpose

Pharmacist and pharmacy owner Phil Berry offers advice on how to grow your business through improved customer service. Mr Berry, from Christchurch, is a programme developer for the ENGAGE and CONNECT pharmacy groups and has been a business consultant for many years

The Pharmacy Action what? Jonathan Chilton-Towle looks at the impact and achievements of the four-year, multi-pronged plan, despite it flying under the radar for some pharmacists

What’s new in pharmacy retail? Tina Hillier, programme coordinator at the ENGAGE Pharmacy Group, looks at new products and takes a second look at others, offering selling tips for staff along the way 

Little brown insects in a child’s hair can make for a horrifying discovery but fast and consistent action over a week or two can soon stop the spread. Darshana Kanjee, pharmacist at Life Pharmacy in Dunedin, discusses her approach to nits and lice 

With the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and an ongoing measles outbreak right here in New Zealand, infectious diseases have become a common ttopic of conversation. While there is not yet a defence against COVID-19, many other diseases can be stopped in their tracks by a successful immunisation programme. Auckland pharmacy owner Hee Seung Lee chats to reporter Jonathan Chilton-Towle about what pharmacy staff can do to raise awareness of vaccine services in the pharmacy and from other healthcare professionals.

For most people, just the thought of running 42.2km is exhausting. But Megan Grant, a pharmacist at Rotorua’s Unichem The Mall, loves pounding the pavement for extreme distances. Reporter Jonathan Chilton-Towle speaks to Megan about her love of long-distance running  

The first 1000 days of life provide a window of opportunity for caregivers to lay down solid foundations. Christchurch pharmacist Sarah Mooney gives an overview of the five interlinked components of WHO’s “nurturing care” framework, that determine the outcome of those first 1000 days