May 2021

The Medicines Class­ification Committee is poised to consider whether pharmacists should be able to dispense the gout prevention medication allopurinol without a prescription to patients already taking it

In a world first, New Zealand scientists have shown that vitamin C, in high-dose infusions, infiltrates cancer tumours. Fiona Cassie finds out what this means for the unproven, but popular, complementary therapy  

Mystery shopper Tina Hillier can pick a good pharmacy from a bad one from a hundred paces, but being a professional super sleuth is not the only activity on the former dispensary technician’s agenda

A sunscreen maker is being referred to the Commerce Commission for allegedly breaking a legal undertaking to meet a voluntary code on the quality and safety of one of its products

A top marginal tax rate for individuals of 39 per cent of earnings above $180,000 may have implications for pharmacy owners who accumulate profits over the years, writes Jonathan Roberts, Auckland director of accountancy firm Moore Markhams 

Motivating and supporting rangatahi into the health sciences and pharmacy pathway is a passion of Lisa Kremer, a member of Ngā Kaitiaki o te Puna Rongoā. Jilly Alexander, author of the MPA column, asks Lisa about her history and her own pharmacy journey 

Thrush and jock itch can lead to itchy, irritated skin in a highly sensitive part of the body. Patients may be reluctant to talk about it but there are plenty of options for treating these conditions, writes Darshana Kanjee, pharmacist at Life Pharmacy Dunedin

Women are pregnant for 40 weeks on average and during that time their bodies go through many changes. The change means pregnant women become susceptible to a myriad of health problems. Pharmacy owner HeeSeung Lee speaks to Jonathan Chilton-Towle about what pharmacy staff can do to assist with some of the most common pregnancy ailments

Winter is coming and Tina Hillier, programme coordinator of ENGAGE Pharmacy Group in Christchurch, reviews supplements, health drinks and pain relief to help customers through the colder months

The potential causes of headaches are many and varied. Christchurch pharmacist Sarah Mooney discusses some of the more common presentations you might come across and the strategies for relief you can offer