Pharmacist

The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is the global federation of national organisations of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists dedicated to improving the access to and value of appropriate medicine use, and contributing to changes in science, practice and health policies worldwide.

The primary object of the Council is to assist in the promotion of the health of the population of South Africa.

Apart from looking after the interests of its member pharmacists, SAAHIP has been active in shaping the health legislation that will affect pharmacists.

Some useful pharmacy practice resources

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia is the professional body which represents pharmacists practising in Australian hospitals and similar institutions - useful journal and publications (some available through web site)

Practice information including the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy

Medscape has combined two drug databases on the web into one comprehensive resource. Information from the National Drug Data File from FirstDataBank, and the American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information reference from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Find information on drug-drug and drug-food interactions, uses and dosage, preparations, adverse effects, and four other categories for every drug. Patient education handouts are available for printing and distributing.

Health Minister, Barbara Hogan and the Pharmacy Stakeholders Forum (PSF) have agreed to settle their dispensing fees issue amicably, the organisation announced on Tuesday. According to a statement issued by PSF, Hogan met PSF representatives on Monday. It was decided it was in the interests all concerned to solve the matter amicably. All parties agreed that medicines must be affordable and accessible to consumers, the PSF said.

The health department has corrected a confusing notice it issued last month on the pricing of nonprescription medicines, making it clear that schedule 0 products are exempt from the two key provisions in the Medicines Act that control prices.

The health department has agreed to provide the pharmacy industry's lawyers with documents and videos detailing how its pricing committee set the pharmacists' dispensing fee, avoiding a public confrontation over the matter in court.