In this episode, we speak with Dr. Ross Tsuyuki, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, at the University of Alberta. Dr. Tsuyuki’s main interest is improving public health through engaging community pharmacists as primary care providers. Dr. Tsuyuki discusses the history and current situation of full scope of practice in Canada and discusses the benefits and challenges for the Australian sector.

Each year, in September, we celebrate World Pharmacists Day. This year’s theme, United in Action for a Healthier World, showcases pharmacy’s positive impact on health around the world. Here in Australia, we saw this play out with the incredible contribution pharmacists made to the COVID-19 vaccination rollout; millions of vaccines in arms when we needed them most. The fact that Australians are now one of the most highly vaccinated populations in the world owes a lot to pharmacists and, for that, we say 'Thank you'. Today, we are speaking with John Jones, a dietician come pharmacist who has grown his practice administering opioid substitutions including depot buprenorphine injections. The legislation on pharmacists providing injections isn’t entirely clear, however,  John’s story shows us what can be possible with the right training, systems, facilities, and quality assurance processes.

National Diabetes Week runs from the 10th – 16th July.  Said to be ‘the epidemic of the 21st century’, chances are you see patients in your pharmacy on a daily basis who make up the approximately 1.8 million Australians with diabetes. However, have you considered a business model that offers one-on-one support, education, and care for diabetes from a credentialled diabetes educator? In this episode, we hear from Rowan Lowe, owner proprietor of the Amcal Life Clinic located in Donnybrook in rural Western Australia. Rowan’s pharmacy took out the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s 2022 category award for Excellence in Business Management and is a Pharmacy with a difference. Their Diabetes clinic is just one of the myriad of services offered at the Donnybrook pharmacy, attracting patients who travel two hours to access health services at the clinic.  Today, you will hear more about the health hub model and what it takes to run a pharmacy business this way. Enjoy. Ready to nominate for 2023? Information and nominations for the Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2023. Amcal Life Clinic Donnybrook Pharmacy. Donnybrook's Facebook page. Category winners in the Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2022.

Wizard Pharmacy Kalgoorlie Central has been on a journey of transformation in recent years. As well as a major store refit, Elise Wheadon and the team have keenly adopted emerging technologies and jumped at professional opportunities to ensure the pharmacy has thrived in an increasingly competitive and digitised environment.  Wizard Pharmacy Kalgoorlie Central have been working tirelessly through the pandemic months and are even continuing their dedication to patient care through increased tele-health engagement, ensuring customers are supported throughout these difficult times. It is this commitment to innovation that has seen Wizard Pharmacy Kalgoorlie Central take out the Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2020 Professional Innovation category win. In this episode, we chat with Elise Wheadon, from Wizard Pharmacy Kalgoorlie Central, about her pharmacy’s journey toward Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2020, some of the challenges facing the industry, and what lies ahead for the future. The Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2020 awards are proudly sponsored by Care Pharmaceuticals and the Quality Care Pharmacy Program. The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has announced plans for the Guild Pharmacy of the Year Awards for 2021! For more information, visit guild.org.au and search “Pharmacy of the Year”. I’ve been your host, Daniel Oyston, and you’ve been listening to episode 50, of the PBCN podcast.

Capital Chemist Chisholm is a fantastic example of the qualities and attributes that will shape the development of community pharmacy moving into the future. Rebecca Young (pharmacy owner) and the team have driven their success through strong business management, capitalising on emerging technologies, and engaging the wider health community. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Capital Chemist Chisolm has displayed an unwavering commitment to community engagement and has continued to provide professional service and advice to patients and the public. Capital Chemist Chisholm’s dedication to patient care and community service saw them win the Business Management category and then be named Overall Pharmacy of the year for 2020. The GPY 2020 award are proudly sponsored by principal sponsor Care Pharmaceuticals and sponsor QCPP. Today we talk with Rebecca Young about the pharmacy’s journey to GPY 2020, the challenges currently facing community pharmacy, and what is in store for the future.

Located on the north-west tip of Tasmania, Wilkinson’s Pharmacy Burnie have proactively transformed their health services to meet the needs of their patients and expanded the scope and role of the community pharmacy in the region. The increased provision of specific health-related services at Wilkinson’s pharmacy demonstrates that the pharmacy is a health destination which enhances patient convenience and health outcomes. Wilkinson’s Pharmacy Burnie was recognised in the category of Community Engagement – Health Services. Wilkinson’s demonstrated a commitment to developing and adopting an increased number of health services to meet the needs of their community. They have displayed a strong commitment to community engagement and a dedication to improving the delivery of professional services and medicines to their patients. Today we chat with Jack Muir Wilson about the Wilkinson’s Pharmacy journey and what the future holds.