April 2017

News

In this issue

Advice for approved pharmacists supplying PBS medicines to patients in areas affected by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie

Pharmacists should note that arrangements have been put in place in areas that have been affected by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie. These arrangements have immediate effect and apply until at least 30 April 2017.
To read the full arrangements, go to http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/news/2017/03/advice-for-approved-pharmacists-ex-tropical-cyclone-debbie

Reminder: Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday 2 April

For our customers in the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia: Fred support hours will shift back one hour from Sunday 2 April.

If your pharmacy is in a state that observes Daylight Savings, check that your computers have been adjusted back one hour after Sunday 2 April. Most computers will adjust automatically.

If your computer needs to be updated manually:

1. Right-click the Clock in your Windows system tray.
2. Select Adjust date/time.

3. On the settings screen, adjust the time back by one hour.

   Note: Make sure you select the correct AM or PM setting; otherwise, your workload statistics report will not be able to select the correct day.

Salbutamol Nebules Substitution

The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits for April 2017 new item addition of 11095Y, corresponding to the product salbutamol 5mg/2.5 mL inhalation solution, 20 x 2.5 mL ampoules, is substitutable with item 2001H, corresponding to product, salbutamol 5mg/2.5 mL inhalation solution, 30 x 2.5 mL ampoules.

As per the Schedule for April 2017:

“Pharmaceutical benefits that have a 30 x 2 pack size and a 20 x 3 pack size are equivalent for the purposes of substitution.”

Due to the complexity of substituting different pack sizes, and to prevent quantity errors, substituting between items 11095Y and 2011H will not be available in Fred Dispense via the usual ‘GS’ shortcut. Users are advised to manually search for and select the brand/pack size required when dispensing under these PBS codes.

Etanercept Substitution

Pharmacists are advised to take caution when substituting between brands or form/presentation types for etanercept injection 50mg. Not all brands or form/presentation types are listed under each item code. When substituting, please refer to full PBS Schedule for individual brand eligibility.

PBS changes effective April 2017

For the full Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits, go to the PBS website at http://www.pbs.gov.au/ where you can search the schedule by drug name.

For your convenience, we've also uploaded a printable summary of this month's important PBS changes to this site:

View the PBS Summary of Changes