May 2020

It seems there’s nothing Tokoroa-based pharmacist prescriber Helen Cant can’t do. 

Young Christchurch pharmacist Laura Pidcock recalls the good, the bad and the chaotic of the first weeks of lockdown, while keeping safe in her bubble

Community pharmacists have an important role in ensuring and delivering an equitable response for vulnerable communities – particularly Māori and Pasifika, during the COVID-19 crisis, says University of Otago School of Pharmacy associate dean (Māori), Leanne Te Karu

Green Cross Health and the Pharmacy Guild are urging the Govern­ment to waive the $5 dollar prescription copayment fee for vulnerable populations to ensure the delivery of an equitable response during the COVID-19 crisis

Funding community pharmacies to vaccinate pregnant women for pertussis (whooping cough) is likely to overcome some barriers to uptake by raising awareness of vaccines and increasing availability, a University of Auckland study has found

A Canterbury Community Pharmacy Group survey of pharmacies shows 20 out of 128 are struggling with COVID-19 pressures and 87 pharmacies are considered at medium risk. Ruth Brown reports

Skin tags can be unsightly if they’re on a prominent part of the body, or can lead to skin irritation. Darshana Kanjee, pharmacist at Life Pharmacy Dunedin, discusses how to manage skin tags

Skin problems become more common every winter. But this year, they may be more common than ever before, as Kiwis attempt to protect themselves from COVID-19 infection, but damage their skin by wearing gloves and constantly using hand sanitiser. Auckland pharmacy owner Hee Seung Lee chats to reporter Jonathan Chilton-Towle about what pharmacy staff can do to help patients presenting with skin complaints

Gordon’s Pharmacy in Gisborne has long been dedicated to going the extra mile, with twice-daily medication deliveries to rural communities up to 200km away. Now their strategies are smoothing the transition to COVID-19 restrictions for staff and patients. Anna Lee reports

How can pharmacy retail put its best foot forward? Tina Hillier, programme coordinator at the ENGAGE Pharmacy Group, looks
at new products that are right for our times, offering selling tips for staff along the way