Drugs and devices

Rick Doblin
Podcasts iconPodcasts

The effect size and enduring benefit of MDMA in PTSD has surpassed all expectation in Phase 3 trials

Expert/s: Rick Doblin
Dr Stephen Birrell
Podcasts iconPodcasts

The causes of high mammographic breast density

Prof Deborah Bateson
Videos iconVideos

In this Product Explainer, Prof Deborah Bateson, Medical Director of Family Planning NSW and Professor at the Daffodil Centre, Faculty of Medicine & Health at the University of Sydney explains the role of the Drospirenone 4mg Progestogen-only oral contraceptive pill, how it is administered and when it should be used.

Dr Prash Puspanathan
Podcasts iconPodcasts

While evidence for effectiveness in managing mental health disorders is growing, it is resource-intensive and must involve trained psychotherapists in a specialised setup and follow up

Dr Jennifer Walsh
Podcasts iconPodcasts

A study showed that medicinal cannabis helped improve sleep subjectively and in duration with no deterioration of sleep architecture

Dr Nicole Highet
Podcasts iconPodcasts

The prevalence of mental health issues in the perinatal period

Dr Linda Calabresi
Clinical Articles iconClinical Articles
Dr Linda Calabresi
Clinical Articles iconClinical Articles
Greg Merlo
Clinical Articles iconClinical Articles

Prominent GP and former member of parliament Kerryn Phelps has entered the turf war between doctors and pharmacists over who gets to prescribe. Pharmacy groups have long called for changes to allow pharmacists to prescribe specified medications, such as the oral contraceptive pill and antibiotics for urinary tract infections. But Phelps argues allowing pharmacists to prescribe will lead to perverse incentives – where pharmacists prescribe inappropriately – because they have a financial interest in the sale of medicines. Phelps has a point. Studies in countries where doctors have dispensing roles have found evidence of financial profits influencing prescribing behaviour. A Swiss study, for instance, found physician dispensing leads to a 34% increase in drug costs per patient, as doctors overprescribe and prescribe more expensive medications.

Expert/s: Greg Merlo
Dr Linda Calabresi
Clinical Articles iconClinical Articles
Dr Linda Calabresi
Clinical Articles iconClinical Articles
Dr Linda Calabresi
Clinical Articles iconClinical Articles