Chemist & Druggist articles from April 2004

Chemist & Druggist archives from April 2004

Cleared pharmacists could still face court.
April 3, 2004... Pharmacists cleared of misconduct by their professional body can still be taken to court by the Government's super-regulator, a High Court judge ruled this week. But in a second case a judge dismissed the Council for the Regulation of...

CRHP and RPSGB back self-regulation.(Council for the Regulation of Health Care Professionals)(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)
April 3, 2004... Welcoming Justice Leveson's ruling in the first case, CRHP said it would now re-examine its process for reviewing all relevant decisions of regulators to take account of the ruling. However, it added that the decision did not cast doubt on...

CPO asks for patience.
April 3, 2004... England's chief pharmacist has asked for patience as the new pharmacy contract takes shape. Noting adverse comments made suggesting a lack of content in health minster Rosie Winterton's address to the PSNC dinner on March 1, Dr Jim Smith...

24th Guide to OTC Medicines.
April 3, 2004... The 24th edition of the Chemist & Druggist Guide to OTC Medicines and Diagnostics is published with this week's issue of C&D. Updated twice a year, the Guide is a listing by therapeutic category of branded OTC medicines, herbal medicines,...

Qualified as supplementary prescribers.(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Felicity Davies of Pulborough, West Sussex, and Vipulchandra Patel, Rimal Patel, and Ashok Soni, all of Streatham, London were the four community pharmacists who qualified as supplementary prescribers from King's College London last week. Mrs...

Anti-violence training starts at #25.(office safety courses offered by UK's National Health Services )(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... The NHS has begun offering its anti-violence training to health professionals this week at a cost of #25 per person. The conflict resolution training course will take place at the new NHS Security Management Service training centre in...

Main area of concern.(prescription charge exemptions)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Social security benefit claimants are the main area of concern for pharmacists when checking prescription charge exemptions. Pharmacists cited the lack of a single piece of documentary evidence to confirm exemptions for this patient group,...

Motorised bed.(Nytol, Stafford Miller Ltd.)
April 3, 2004... Tourists in central London had to look twice when they saw a four- poster bed hurtling round Piccadilly Circus last Thursday. But the motorised bed, sponsored by Nytol, was helping to draw awareness to the problems of sleep deprivation and its...

CPW bid to keep oxygen service with contractors.(Community Pharmacy Wales)
April 3, 2004... Community Pharmacy Wales firmly believes that community pharmacists should continue to provide both long term and short burst oxygen therapy. Oxygen suppliers would be unable to provide the same patient support as pharmacy contractors, CPW...

RPSiS puts script charges on the agenda.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland)
April 3, 2004... Scottish pharmacists have set up a working group to evaluate the impact of abolishing prescription charges in the light of a Government commitment to review the levy. Working group member Maurice Hickey said there appeared to be cross...

BAPW warns drug bill cuts may harm patients.(British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers)
April 3, 2004... Government moves to cut the NHS spend on medicines could damage service delivery and endanger patient safety, Steve Dunn has warned. Speaking as chairman of the British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers, Mr Dunn said that if the...

Pharmacy overlooked.
April 3, 2004... The Scottish Pharmaceutical Federation is disappointed that community pharmacists - who have regular contact with families - are missing from a consultation document on child health. The SPF thinks it is essential to emphasise the...

Candidates confirmed.(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... The candidates standing for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Council elections this year have been confirmed as: * Hassan Argomandkhah * Shiv Bagga * Andrew Burr * Peter Curphey * Sid Dajani * Wally Dove * Davan Eustace *...

Funding allows community project to continue.
April 3, 2004... A community pharmacy programme that has delivered health services in partnership with local community groups has received #400,000 to make it permanent. The Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership (BCPP) has been running for three...

Advertising relaxation expected soon.
April 3, 2004... The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is considering relaxing the regulations banning advertising of certain diseases to the public. Last summer the health minister said the Government would be willing to lift some...

Number of participants in medicines management trial doubles.
April 3, 2004... A further 10 NHS trusts are to take part in the hospital medicines management collaborative, health minister Rosie Winterton announced last Friday. Each of the 20 participating hospitals will receive #40,000 to deliver health improvements...

Training for AAH customers.(Vantage Pharmacy)
April 3, 2004... Vantage Pharmacy has launched four training courses for pharmacy staff in association with Buttercups Training. Available to all AAH customers, the courses aim to train staff to medicines counter assistant, dispensing assistant, dispensing...

Chemilines new premises.
April 3, 2004... Gerry Sutcliffe MP, parliamentary under-secretary of state, Department of Trade & Industry, has officially opened Chemilines new premises in Wembley. Chemilines House comprises 90,000 square feet fitted out with production and warehousing...

New name for NCC operation.(National Co-operative Chemists)(Co-operative Group Pharmacy )(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... The Co-operative Group has renamed its National Co-operative Chemists pharmacy operation as Co-operative Group Pharmacy. The new name "accurately reflects ownership and at the same time, differentiates us from the other Co-operative...

Ivax and UCB announce deal.(Ivax Pharmaceuticals UK )(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Ivax Pharmaceuticals UK and UCB Pharma Limited have announced the signing of a UK co-promotion agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Ivax and UCB Pharma will both promote Ivax Qvar CFC-free aerosol for the treatment of asthma. ...

PPL in takeover talks.(PPL Therapeutics PLC)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... The board of PPL Therapeutics has confirmed that it is involved in preliminary discussions with a third party "which may or may not lead to an offer being made for the company". In a statement, it says: "These discussions, which are at an...

Weldricks chain now 38 strong.(David Buckingham's pharmacy )(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Yorkshire based pharmacy group Weldricks Pharmacy has bought David Buckingham's pharmacy in Goldthorpe. This brings the number of pharmacies owned by the chain to 38. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Boots shares fall as investment plan unveiled.(Boots Healthcare International)
April 3, 2004... Boots shares fell 13 per cent last week following its announcement of a #390 million investment programme which would hit its profits. Of this, #250m is to be spent on opening 60 stores this year, 40 of which will be in out-of-town...

Rosie Winterton visits the Victoria Centre branch of Boots.
April 3, 2004... Health minister Rosie Winterton has visited the Victoria Centre branch of Boots in Nottingham. "This was a great opportunity for us to showcase one of our largest and most modern pharmacies. We also stressed the importance of the new contract...

Remote supervision claim.(Fusion Health)(Consolidated Application for Pharmacy Administration)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Fusion Health has launched its CAPA (Consolidated Application for Pharmacy Administration) software which it claims will "potentially revolutionise the community pharmacy sector". The system enabled remote supervision of medicine sales...

Bids save #640,000.(Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust)
April 3, 2004... Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust says it has saved #640,000 with the UK's first reverse online pharmaceutical supplies auction. Pharmaceutical suppliers submitted a total of 185 tender bids outlining their best deals for generic drugs. At the...

Garnier's pay increases 14pc.(Jean-Pierre Garnier)
April 3, 2004... GlaxoSmithKline's chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier had a 14 per cent boost to his pay package last year, according to GSK's annual report. Dr Garnier's total package rose from #2.45m to #2.78m, including a salary of #916,000 and bonuses...

PAGB PERSPECTIVE: The right prescription.(Proprietary Association of Great Britain)
April 3, 2004... Sheila Kelly, director of PAGB, asks if pharmacist prescribing will hinder the development of the OTC market With the registration of the first pharmacist supplementary prescribers, and independent prescribing coming down the line, are we...

Numark's 1,600th member.(Numark Laboratories Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... David Mitchell, of the BA Whittle pharmacy in Hornsea has signed up as Numark's 1,600th member. Mr Mitchell has owned the pharmacy for over nine years but said proposed changes to pharmacy prompted his decision to join Numark. "It is no longer...

Pharmaceuticals make it big in rich list.(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Four companies in the pharmaceutical and personal care sector have been included on the Sunrise Radio Asian Rich List 2004, an index of the wealthiest Asians in Britain today. Compiled by Philip Beresford, author of the Sunday Times Rich...

Opinion.(Letter to the Editor)
April 3, 2004... Last week's question was: Wales is abolishing the prescription charge. How should the system be changed in the rest of the UK? "Abolish the charge. It's unfair... and iniquitous and should be replaced by another form of central revenue" ...

Comment from the Editor.
April 3, 2004... The ruling this week on the powers of the over-arching body of professional self-regulators is worth noting. Regarded as a landmark case by the RPSGB, the High Court has confirmed that the Council for the Regulation of Healthcare...

THEIR VIEWS: Statin training for pharmacists.
April 3, 2004... Health minister Lord Warner on the POM to P switch of simvastatin The Government has consulted publicly on a proposal to make simvastatin 10mg available over the counter in pharmacies, to reduce the risk of a first major coronary event in...

Northern Ireland notebook: You can take a horse to water.
April 3, 2004... Pharmacy has always contributed to public health - that's what we've been doing for 150 years. So I'm somewhat confused to understand the current race to establish our contribution. Making it Better has a strong public health flavour but...

What's the difference?(community pharmacists and physicians)
April 3, 2004... Community pharmacists have always had the problem of being perceived by others as professional shopkeepers where the profit motive conflicts with their professional responsibility to the patient. On the other hand, general practice medicine...

Separating the wheat from the chaff.(prescription charges)
April 3, 2004... Last week's C&D Questiontime asked about your preferred changes to prescription charges but I would like to know what the general public thinks. From a straw poll of my customers people are far more aware of the real cost of NHS health...

Cones to direct the OTC traffic.(over the counter)
April 3, 2004... I never cease to be amazed at the ingenuity of the pharmaceutical industry but all credit to Diomed for its brilliant reinvention of that old-fashioned headache remedy, the menthol cone. I have sold menthol cones for years and never...

When it comes to successful POM to P switching, it's good to talk.
April 3, 2004... Adrienne de Mont reports from a London conference on OTC medicines Talking to pharmacists is key to a successful POM to P switch application, a marketing conference heard last week. It is important for companies to put themselves in the...

PHARMACY UPDATE: Treating CF.(cystic fibrosis)
April 3, 2004... In the second of two articles on cystic fibrosis, Dr Warren Lenney looks at the medicines used Objectives * To understand the rationale behind lung treatments * To revise pancreatic treatments * To be aware of other...

Cyclogest change.(Progestational agents)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Alpharma has relaunched Cyclogest following acquisition of the product from Shire Pharmaceuticals. Alpharma has said that there will be no disruption to product supply, and the pipcodes and list prices are unchanged. For more...

Zispin SolTab.(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Zispin SolTab (mirtazipine orodispersible) will replace Zispin, which will be discontinued when current stocks are exhausted in May 2004, Organon says. Zispin SolTab is bioequivalent to Zispin, but is available in a wider dosage range. ...

Kapake Effervescent.(opioid analgesics)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Galen has launched Kapake Effervescent Tablets (paracetamol 500mg, codeine phosphate hemihydrate 30mg) as a Prescription Only Medicine. Two effervescent tablets should be dissolved in at least half a glass of water and taken every four...

Lone schizophrenics need pharmacy help.
April 3, 2004... Only 41 per cent of patients with schizophrenia take their medications regularly, with those living alone most likely to be non-compliant, claim US researchers writing in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Almost one quarter of the...

Stroke risk on long flights.
April 3, 2004... Cramped seating conditions on aeroplanes may be putting long-haul passengers at risk of stroke as well as venous thromboembolism, researchers have claimed. People who have a small opening between the atria of the heart (patent foramen...

Casodex improves progression-free survival.(prostate cancer medication)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Casodex (bicalutamide 150mg) in conjunction with standard prostate cancer therapy significantly improved progression-free survival for men with local disease, researchers announced at the European Association of Urology conference in Vienna....

Avodart reduces BPH risk.(benign prostatic hyperplasia)(Dutasteride treatment)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Avodart (dutasteride) lowers the risk over four years of benign prostatic hyperplasia progressing, researchers have claimed. Dutasteride treatment for over four years reduced total prostate volume by 27 per cent, announced researchers at...

Avent sterilising goes digital.(Express iQ Electronic Steam )(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... A digital steam steriliser that can sterilise six baby bottles in six minutes is being introduced into the Avent range. The Express iQ Electronic Steam Steriliser incorporates a digital display that indicates each stage of the sterilising...

Trojan turns up heat for couples.(Trojan Shared Pleasure)(contraceptives)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Carter Products will launch a new condom into its Trojan Pleasure range in June. Trojan Shared Pleasure is aimed at couples and is designed to provide a stimulating and pleasure enhancing experience for both partners. The condom...

Full Marks back on TV.(medicated shampoos)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... SSL International is supporting its Full Marks head lice treatment with a #1 million national TV campaign this month. On air from April 5-25, the commercial highlights the quick and easy application of Full Marks Mousse. The campaign...

New GSL pack for Dulco-lax Perles.(Gastrointestinal agents)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Boehringer Ingelheim is introducing a small GSL pack for Dulco-lax Perles containing 20 capsules. Indicated for the short-term relief of constipation, each easy-to- swallow capsule contains 2.5mg sodium picosulfate. The capsules should...

OTC version of Lomotil.(Over The Counter (medications not requiring a prescription))(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Goldshield Pharmaceuticals has introduced a `P' version of Lomotil (POM). Dymotil tablets, which contain 2.5mg diphenoxylate and 0.025mg atropine sulphate, are indicated for acute diarrhoea. The tablets are suitable for adults aged 16 and...

Fresh appeal for Softlips.(new lip balm introduced)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Mentholatum is introducing a fresh new look for Softlips lip balm. Softlips, which comes in a twist up slimline stick, has been repackaged in softer-looking cushion packs. The packs are colour coded for each of the three SPF20 variants...

Nivea takes sensitive approach to men.(men's face wash line expanded)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Beiersdorf is extending its Nivea for Men Sensitive range with two new products targeted at men aged 18-35 with dry, sensitive skin. Nivea for Men Sensitive Face Wash has been developed to cleanse the face without drying it out or...

Compeed steps up campaign.(Johnson & Johnson Ltd.)
April 3, 2004... Johnson & Johnson has joined forces with sports specialist Dr Patrick Milroy to launch the London Marathon Feet First campaign. In the run up to this year's marathon on April 18, J&J has produced the Compeed Feet First guide in conjunction...

Teenagers plastered.(new adhesive bandage introduced)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... 3M will launch two new plasters into its Nexcare first aid range in June. Nexcare Protect Tattoo Teen Strips are based on the Protect Strip design and may encourage teenagers to wear a plaster to cover a wound when they otherwise might...

Changing the face of Aapri.(Aapri skincare line expanded)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Keyline Brands is relaunching its Aapri skincare brand with a new image. The Aapri range is being extended to include six products to cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise. The new look range comprises Scrub Cream, Facial Scrub Gel,...

SHOPFITTING: The design philosophy.(Dollar Rae)(Interview)
April 3, 2004... Half of Dollar Rae's 70-year involvement in retail design has been as a pharmacy shopfitting specialist. Managing director John Hilditch discusses the latest trends in a Q&A session with Gary Paragpuri * What are the major trends in...

OPENSHOP: The Shipman factor.
April 3, 2004... While the Shipman Inquiry is drawing up its recommendations for the handling of controlled drugs, David Reissner asks for some practicalities to be considered Harold Shipman, a Hyde GP, murdered at least 215 patients, usually visiting them...

Acambis - Appointment.(Ross Graham appointed independent non-executive director and chairman of its audit committee)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Acambis has announced the appointment of Ross Graham as an independent non-executive director and chairman of its audit committee. Mr Graham has joined from the information technology company Misys Plc. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Alltracel Pharmaceticals - Appointment.(John Kelly named head of alliances and acquisitions)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... The biopharmaceutical R&D company Alltracel Pharmaceuticals has named John Kelly as head of alliances and acquisitions. Mr Kelly moves from Logica-CMG Wireless Networks where he was vice-president of finance. Copyright: CMP Information...

Calling all technicians.
April 3, 2004... UniChem is inviting technicians to enter the newly-launched Pharmacy Alliance Community Technician of the Year Award. The winner will receive one year's full membership of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK, a fully paid trip to the...

OTC car competition winner can't believe her good fortune.(Over The Counter magazine)(Karen Baker)
April 3, 2004... Karen Baker couldn't believe her bad luck when her car was written off by a hit and run driver while parked outside her house one night. But her luck changed when, only hours later, Over The Counter magazine editor Lesley Keen telephoned to...

Runners gear up for Marathon.(Sanjay Anand)(Carol Watson)
April 3, 2004... Following the news that pharmacist Sanjay Anand will be running the Flora London Marathon later this month (C&D, March 20, p42), Carol Watson contacted C&D to say that she will be attempting the 26.2 mile run on behalf of the British Heart...

Awards.(pharmacies recieve awards for participation in `Have a Heart Paisley' health project)(caption)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Five pharmacists have received awards from the `Have a Heart Paisley' pilot health project for their involvement in the town's successful smoking cessation scheme. Pictured from left, Elizabeth Russell of Abbey Chemists, Dorothy Gillespie of FA...

OTC: COMMENT.(Over The Counter)
April 3, 2004... I had a memorable trip to the Nestle headquarters at Croydon a couple of weeks ago. And it wasn't just because the people at Nestle are always so charming. I was there to see one of our Over The Counter readers collect the keys to a...

OTC: Charles urges integrated approach.(Over The Counter)(Charles, Prince of Wales)
April 3, 2004... The Prince of Wales has entered the allergy debate, writing a feature in The Guardian newspaper in which he calls for greater use of complementary medicine alongside orthodox treatments in the NHS. The Prince says the UK has a minimal...

OTC: Can't afford to smoke, can't bear not to?(QUIT)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... A quarter of all British families are lone parents. They are the ones most likely to be living in poverty - yet three-quarters of single parents smoke. QUIT, the charity which helps smokers give up, says many lone parents are facing the...

OTC: New name.(CMP Information Ltd)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... As part of an internal restructuring on 1 March 2004, the business and contracts (including subscriptions) of CMP Europe Limited, Property Media Limited, The Builder Group Limited and CMP Information Limited were transferred to a legal entity...

OTC: Karen's a check mate.(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Karen Nugent is the first person in the Co-operative Group Pharmacy to pass the new checking technician qualification introduced by the National Pharmaceutical Association. Karen can now check customers' prescriptions before they leave the...

OTC: Activa shows compression hosiery can be sexy.(over the counter)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Which of the women in the picture is wearing Activa compression hosiery? When 1,000 people were asked that question, nearly 60 per cent either guessed wrongly or could not tell. When asked to describe Activa compression hosiery, 47 per...

OTC: Controlling the cravings.(Nicorette)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Nicorette launched its Cravings Control Crew on nine cities on No Smoking Day to track down the `cravings man' featured in the brand's TV advertising. Crews were in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Glasgow, Edinburgh,...

OTC: Bliss-ful retirement.(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Renee Bliss has retired after 30 years with Co-operative Group's Pharmacy. Renee, originally from Oban in Scotland, began her career with the group at Furtherwick Road, Canvey, in 1974, moving to the town's Oak Road branch in 1993. ...

OTC: Probiotics on the web.(www.probiactive.com)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Danone, maker of the probiotic drink Actimel, has launched a new website to provide healthcare professionals with an authoritative guide to the latest information and research on probiotics. The site gives access to the most recent clinical...

OTC: Canesten's ultimate Duo.(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Canesten launches a dual attack on thrush with Canesten Duo, a combination pack containing Canesten Oral (150mg fluconazole) and Canesten double strength thrush cream (2 per cent clotrimazole). Bayer says that while 60 per cent of thrush...

OTC: Care goes to the max.(Nonprescription drugs)(Care pain relief)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... The latest addition to the Care pain relief range is Care Ibuprofen Gel 10 per cent. Thornton & Ross says the new gel is "the most powerful topical pain reliever available without prescription" and offers excellent value for money....

OTC: Zanprol - an OTC first for heartburn.(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare has launched Zanprol, the first over the counter omeprazole brand, which it says is a breakthrough in heartburn management. Omeprazole has been available on prescription for 15 years and is GSK's latest...

OTC: FreeStyle Mini shows size matters.(Therasense UK Ltd.)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Therasense hails its new FreeStyle Mini blood glucose monitor as the smallest in the world. At just 7.5cm high and weighing 40g, the hi-tech monitor offers quick and discreet tests. As well as making testing virtually pain-free, the...

OTC: Radian B gets sporty.(over the counter)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Ransom Consumer Healthcare has launched a new Radian B Sports range targeting mainly younger, sportier consumers. Radian B Sports includes a warming Muscle Lotion (125ml, #3.49), a cooling Freeze Spray with peppermint oil (125ml, #3.99),...

OTC: Germoloids grows by shrinking piles.(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Haemorrhoids brand Germoloids is expanding with the launch of a 55g pack of Germoloids Cream and a Germoloids Duo Pack. Bayer Consumer says the larger 55g pack will appeal to regular sufferers, while the Duo Pack, which contains a 15ml tube...

OTC: Lanes soothes ulcers.(GR Lane Health Products)(over the counter: Soothagel (ulcer gel))(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... New from Lanes is Soothagel, a protective gel which seals mouth ulcers under a long-lasting shield. Containing the essential fatty acids Glycerol Oxy-Triesters, dual- action Soothagel is formulated to encourage cell regeneration and is...

OTC: Understanding read.(Understanding Children's Behaviour)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... New in the Family Doctor Books series is Understanding Children's Behaviour, by Dr Dinah Jayson. The book aims to answer questions about children's behaviour from infancy to pre-teen. Family Doctor Publications, Tel: 01202 668330 ...

OTC: Sure response.(Sure antiperspirant)(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Lever Faberge targets `emotional sweat' with a new body responsive formulation for Sure antiperspirant. The brand has been relaunched as Sure activeresponse for men and women. Lever Faberge, Tel: 020 8439 6100 Copyright: CMP...

OTC: Oxy dances in with new look.(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare has reinvented its OXY medicated skincare brand with a simplified range, new packaging and some reformulations. A six-strong core range features the best-selling variants to simplify the range and...

OTC: First aid guide from Brulidine.(Brief Article)
April 3, 2004... Brulidine Cream has joined forces with the British Red Cross to launch First Aid in the Home - a first aid guide with step-by-step instructions on treating injuries caused by accidents in the home. Supporting the launch is a #250,000...