Page 6 - Retail Pharmacy Magazine October 2020

4 EDITOR’S LETTER AEDITOR’S LETTER t the time of publishing, In the lead-up to World Blindness Day (October 8), Australians were a step we spoke to Annie Gibbins, CEO of Glaucoma Australia, closer to gaining access to a whose mission is to raise awareness of the ‘sneak thief coronavirus vaccine after the of sight’, as glaucoma is commonly referred to. I thought federal government secured an I was well informed on the topic, but it wasn’t until international deal to produce an speaking to someone as passionate as Annie about inoculation frontrunner, should it that I more fully realised the ghastly impact of this trials succeed. Who would be insidious disease on people and, most importantly, how on the list to be vaccinated first, however, and how this much of a difference it would make if every person over process would be administered remain unclear. the age of 50 had their eyes tested every two years. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced If this became common practice in Australia, we could additional funding for three Australian Covid-19 vaccine candidates, while a number of Medicare-subsidised Covid-19 health measures, including telehealth, were extended for a further six months at the cost of $2 billion. However, the government foreshadowed a reduction in JobSeeker and JobKeeper payments. Most importantly at the time of writing this, there was light at the end of the tunnel for Victoria, with the number of transmissions and deaths declining daily. On Sunday September 20, the state had recorded the lowest number of infections since June. It was timely, therefore, to speak to someone who has been at the forefront of this pandemic. Luke Watson from TerryWhite Chemmart Mentone in suburban Melbourne has been trading since the Covid crisis began, at times working around the clock to keep serving customers at the height of anxiety and panic. He told us his main priority was to keep family and staff safe, and that while the second coronavirus wave had been more severe than the first, the situation was calmer, with a ‘We’ve been here before, so we know what to do’ feeling prevalent. He quickly reverted to the procedures he had implemented previously and continued trading. His ‘Let’s get on it with it’ attitude is more infectious than the virus itself and I have no doubt this is why his staff and customers value his guidance and support. With the threat of the pandemic still present and no vaccine yet available, this a very interesting and insightful article for all pharmacists as it shows how quickly a situation can change while living through such conditions, and that adaptation is the key to survival (Pharmacy Profile: pages 26-27). be freed from glaucoma blindness. Annie believes a collaborative approach is required and that you, as pharmacists, have an important role to play in the detection process (pages 10-11). With September 25 being World Pharmacists Day, I salute all of you for the magnificent work you do every day, especially now. Thank you for the devotion you’ve given to your communities by remaining open throughout all the chaos, and for taking care of your staff and customers when this was needed most. I know all of you have your own families and loved ones to think of, yet you still showed up every day, and still do, to carry on with the job at hand. Earlier in the week, while speaking to the World Pharmacy Council, Minister Hunt thanked pharmacists not only in Australia but around the world for their work during Covid-19. “Pharmacists have been truly heroic,” he said. “\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[In Australia,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\] we’ve had 5000-plus community pharmacies that kept their doors open throughout Covid-19, despite the risk of infection and the abuse that some copped in the early days. Pharmacists and pharmacies have been an incredible community support, not only in Australia, but around the world.” So, let’s continue to do our very best to remain positive, retain some optimism, stay practical and, most of all, take care! Managing Editor RETAIL PHARMACY • OCT 2020