12 NEWS
THE FIRST MEDICINE in Australia both proven # and indicated † for Heart Failure regardless of LVEF to reduce the risk of CV death or HHF . 1-3
12 NEWS
4 AUGUST 2023 ausdoc . com . au
Town foils GP practice takeover
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Sarah Simpkins A MEDICAL crisis in Yackandandah , |
operates the town ’ s only GP practice as well as an aged care facility and child- |
as a GP in Yackandandah for 40 years , welcomed the news . |
running it , the medical practice could be saved ,” he said . |
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Victoria , has been averted — at least |
care service , was in favour of selling |
He and one other GP were retiring |
Dr Davis would even consider com- |
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for now — after a controversial takeo- |
up to Apollo Care . But the move was |
amid the ongoing uncertainty , but he |
ing out of retirement if the practice was |
|
ver of its only GP practice failed to go |
blocked when the community mem- |
said most GPs would stay on — at least |
restructured and run efficiently . |
|
through . |
bers voted against the sale last month . |
while they waited to see how the prac- |
“ I have always loved being a GP ,” he |
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All five GPs in the small rural com- |
Following the vote , all five board |
tice fared . |
said . “ But when you have got to deal |
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munity had vowed to quit if the sale |
directors said they would resign and |
Documents on the proposed |
with people who are making a mess |
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to national aged care provider Apollo |
threatened to call in administrators if |
sale said Yackandandah Health had |
of your life financially and politically , |
|
Care proceeded , citing concerns about |
at least four more directors were not |
incurred losses of $ 5.6 million over |
then there is no fun in it . |
|
the company ’ s ability to run a general |
nominated . However , seven potential |
four years , but Dr Davis said the finan- |
“ We are in a profession where peo- |
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practice . |
board directors have now stepped for- |
cial picture was still unclear . |
ple matter more than money or any- |
Dr Simon Davis . |
The board of the communityowned Yackandandah Health , which |
ward from the community . Dr Simon Davis , who has worked |
“ We are quite confident that , with an administrator and the right people |
thing else , so the GPs basically want to keep the place going .” |
TGA okays insulin pen swap
Antony Scholefield THE TGA will allow pharmacists to swap out certain pre-filled insulin products in response to a global shortage predicted to last until June 2024 .
Ryzodeg 70 / 30 FlexTouch — a combined insulin degludec , insulin aspart and injector product — is in shortage because of “ unprecedented ” global demand for different medicines using the same Flex- Touch injector , the TGA says .
As a result , it has granted pharmacists legal permission to dispense Ryzodeg 70 / 30 Penfill , another Novo Nordisk product , instead of FlexTouch .
The products are equal in strength and both subcutaneously
The substitute product does not include an injector .
IMPACT HEART FAILURE LIKE NEVER BEFORE
*† 1-4
*
THE FIRST MEDICINE in Australia both proven # and indicated † for Heart Failure regardless of LVEF to reduce the risk of CV death or HHF . 1-3
LVEF = left ventricular ejection fraction .
†
As an adjunct to standard of care therapy . 1
#
Meeting the primary endpoint in randomised , placebo-controlled clinical trials powered for major clinical outcomes in HF . 2 , 3
NOW INDICATED for use in HFpEF patients 1
injected , but the substitute product does not include an injector .
The TGA has told patients that doctors , pharmacists or diabetes educators can “ explain the differences between FlexTouch pre-filled pens and Penfill cartridges [ and ] how to administer them ”.
It adds that the reusable Novo- Pen 6 — one of the injector options for the insulin cartridges — is free from some pharmacies under a Novo Nordisk – funded program .
“ Consider instructing patients on how to use the substitute medicine and devices at their next appointment ,” it advises GPs .
Its advice to pharmacists is that patients must have a suitable delivery device to receive Ryzodeg Penfill cartridges and that pharmacists should “ use your professional and clinical judgement to determine if substitution is right for the patient ”.
“ For example , a level of dexterity is required to load a cartridge into a reusable pen , and your patient may not be able to comfortably do this — either due to their age or medical conditions .
“ If substitution is not right for the patient , refer them back to their prescriber .”
Not actual patients .