Question 1

The pharmacist has a key role in:&#10;A)meeting appropriate industry standards.&#10;B)the timely access and affordability of medicines.&#10;C)the quality and responsible use of medicines.&#10;D)all of the above.

Accepted Answer

The pharmacist plays a key role in meeting industry standards, ensuring timely access and affordability of medicines, and promoting the quality and responsible use of medicines. As medication experts, pharmacists are responsible for ensuring that patients receive safe and effective medication therapy, and serve as an essential component of the healthcare team. Therefore, all of the above statements are correct.

Question 2

Pharmacists:&#10;A)can only dispense commercially available medicines.&#10;B)can dispense all medications without a prescription.&#10;C)can dispense across all schedules if subscribed to the Quality Care Pharmacy program.&#10;D)ensure that the supplied medicine accurately reflects the prescriber's intentions and is consistent with the needs and safety of the patient.

Accepted Answer

Pharmacists have a critical role in ensuring that medication is prescribed and supplied safely and effectively. They ensure that the medication accurately reflects the prescriber's intentions and is consistent with the needs and safety of the patient. This involves dispensing medications based on the patient's medical history and current medication regimen, checking for drug interactions and allergies, providing instructions on medication use, and monitoring for potential side effects. Pharmacists cannot dispense all medications without a prescription and cannot exceed the legal limitations of their state or province regarding controlled substances. Being subscribed to the Quality Care Pharmacy program does not automatically grant pharmacists the ability to dispense all medications without appropriate prescriptions or licenses.

Question 3

If the pharmacist considers that the medicine may have a preventable adverse effect on the patient,it is the responsibility of the pharmacist to:&#10;A)adhere to the prescriber's orders.&#10;B)intervene and converse with the prescriber.&#10;C)assess clients before dispensing medicines.&#10;D)notify the Pharmacy Board of Australia.

Accepted Answer

If the pharmacist considers that the medicine may have a preventable adverse effect on the patient, it is the responsibility of the pharmacist to intervene and converse with the prescriber to clarify any concerns and recommend alternatives if necessary. Adhering to the prescriber's orders without taking any action to prevent harm to the patient would be negligent. Assessing clients before dispensing medicines is a standard practice and should be done regardless of whether there are concerns about adverse effects. Notifying the Pharmacy Board of Australia may be necessary in some cases, but it is not the immediate responsibility of the pharmacist in this situation.

Question 4

The vast majority of pharmacists' consultations are not paid for by governments.Pharmacists have relied on the income derived from:&#10;A)the legislation associated with how scheduled drugs are administered.&#10;B)the mark-up from the sale of medicines.&#10;C)controlling the availability of medicines.&#10;D)over-the-counter medications.

Accepted Answer

The mark-up from the sale of medicines has traditionally been the main source of income for pharmacists, as they purchase medications at a wholesale price and sell them at a retail price. Governments may regulate the pricing of some medications, but overall pharmacists rely on the mark-up to cover expenses and generate profits. The other choices may impact a pharmacist's role, but do not necessarily directly relate to their income.

Question 5

The need to avoid medication-related harm is also reflected in:&#10;A)the legislation associated with how scheduled drugs are administered.&#10;B)the National Medicines Policy.&#10;C)controlling the availability of medicines to protect public health and safety.&#10;D)how medicines are dispersed and sold in Australia.

Accepted Answer

The National Medicines Policy in Australia includes a focus on minimizing harm from medication use through initiatives such as the quality use of medicines and promoting the safe and effective use of medication. A, C, and D are also relevant to medication safety but do not specifically reflect the need to avoid medication-related harm.

Deck 26: The Pharmacists Unique Contribution to Australias Health System