For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews
Pharmac calling for feedback from the sector
Pharmac calling for feedback from the sector

PHARMAC is asking all in the health sector to share their thoughts on how we can best engage with them.
PHARMAC’s medical director Dr Shirley Crawshaw explains, “we are running an online survey because we are keen to ensure that how we engage with you meets your needs as well as ours.
“We want to hear your views on what works well, and how we can improve our relationship with you.”
As a small agency, PHARMAC highly values the role that our health sector stakeholders play in supporting our work.
“We appreciate you are all busy, and we would really value your feedback. The survey findings will provide us with direction for our future work.”
The survey will be repeated annually to allow PHARMAC to identify and track perceptions and views of PHARMAC from key stakeholders.
The survey should only take about 10 minutes and is open until 18 December.