December 2024 cover

A DOCTORAL candidate’s research into patterns of prescribing and how this may influence patients’ recovery from stroke in New Zealand has been internationally recognised.

Medicinal cannabis prescriptions have increased greatly in recent years but so has the potency of the products being prescribed, writes Jody Hopkinson

Pharmac’s specialist Māori advisory group has been disestablished replaced by partnerships with outside entities, reports Alan Perrott

THE TOP PHARMACY ROLE at Te Whatu Ora could be disestablished following the resignation of Billy Allan, Te Whatu Ora principal pharmacy services development manager.

A pharmacy in Taita is doing its bit to help those in need in its community, Jonathan Chilton-Towle reports

THE NEW ZEALAND Health Plan Te Pae Waenga is now not expected to be signed off by the health minister until next year, according to Te Whatu Ora director of planning and outcomes Lisa Williams.

STI self-testing kits being sold online may be too good to be true, reports Jonathan Chilton-Towle

SANTA CLAUS’ southernmost letter box has opened in an Invercargill pharmacy, inviting children to send their Christmas wishlist to the man in red and his team at the North Pole.

Unused medicines are being put to good use overseas thanks to the hard work of volunteers, reports Jody Hopkinson

SUPPORTING GUMBOOT Day opens up space for conversations with customers, says Allison Gallagher, senior pharmacist at Sanders Pharmacy in Te Awamutu. “Conversations can be anything from ‘what’s that all about?’ to someone saying ‘I’ve used some of their money and it saved my life’, which really pulls at the heart strings.”