1478期    2006-6-19至2006-6-25    發行人:何榮生     社    長:連瑞猛     總編輯:劉新華     主    編:張玉明     記    者:蔡秋鳳     一週全球藥聞 Pharmacists Play Key Role in Recommending OTC Products 一項由美國藥師協會（APhA）所作的調查顯示，社區藥局藥師平均一週內會有被病患詢問有關OTC產品達32次，而藥師對於每個問題的平均諮詢時間為3到5分鐘；而美國藥師協會發現，高達81%病患會遵從藥師的指示用藥，因此藥師在用藥指導上，扮演了相當重要的角色。 The typical community pharmacist now spends about 2 hours a week advising customers about OTC products. In the vast majority of cases, patients are following the pharmacist's advice. A new survey reported by the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) found that pharmacists are asked about OTC products an average of 32 times a weeks. Of the pharmacists participating in the survey, 55% said that they spend 3 to 5 minutes advising each patient who asks about an OTC product. "Apparently that time is well spent," the APhA official said, noting that patients follow the pharmacist's OTC product recommendations 81% of the time. (Pharmacy Times) New Generics May Save Medicare $23 Billion 藥事照顧及管理協會（PCMA）評估，未來五年因有許多的藥品的專利權即將到期，而面臨與學名藥競爭的情形下，這將可為健康保險省下可觀的藥品支出費用。 The flurry of high-profile generic drug introductions scheduled to hit the market over the next 5 years could produce savings of more than $23 billion for the new Medicare Part D drug benefit, according to a new analysis by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA). The group examined the top 100 drugs used by seniors to develop a "conservative estimate" of potential Medicare cost savings. According to the analysis, 14 of those top 100 drugs are slated to experience generic competition by 2010, including branded medicines commonly used by seniors to treat conditions such as high cholesterol, depression, heart disease, and hypertension. (Pharmacy Times) 更多資訊請參考年輕藥師網站:www.typg.org.tw 或e-mail至 ypgtwn@yahoo.com.tw 資料來源：TYPG台灣年輕藥師協會編輯整理