Chemist & Druggist articles from February 2004

Chemist & Druggist archives from February 2004

Knockout 2004 rules.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... All pharmacists who registered for Pharmacy Update before January 31 will entered for Update Knockout 2004 (unless they have opted out). Knockout is supported by Genus Pharmaceuticals. There is a #2,000 first prize and #1,000 for the...

Pharmacy upset by Which? hunt.
February 7, 2004... Pharmacy organisations are disappointed after a Consumer Association investigation found that pharmacy staff gave poor advice and failed to ask the right questions. Researchers made 84 visits to multiple and independent pharmacies, and on...

THE UNDERCOVER RESULTS.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... The Which? criticisms were: * Pharmacists failed to ask about other medication or warn about interactions when a researcher, pretending to be on oral contraceptives, requested St John's wort (five unsatisfactory visits). * Researchers...

DoH launches the `big conversation' on public health.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... The DoH is to hold its own `big conversation' with the public and the healthcare professions on the nation's health. Health secretary John Reid has announced a consultation on how to tackle issues such as obesity, smoking and sexually...

CP goes online.(www.dotpharmacy.com/cp)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Community Pharmacy is celebrating its 18th birthday by going online at www.dotpharmacy.com/cp. The site will carry features, an interactive area for reader comments and contact details for the magazine. CP editor Lesley Ribbens said: "This is...

MHRA seeks Senecio ban.(Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency )(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has proposed a ban on the sale and supply of all herbal remedies containing Senecio species for internal use. Unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids contained in this plant are known to...

NiQuitin CQ fashion awards.(London College of Fashion )(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare has teamed up with the London College of Fashion to launch the NiQuitin CQ fashion awards. The aim is to use "the power of fashion to inspire people to quit smoking". Pictured are the winning designs by Alan...

Win a Ka in OTC Awards.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Pharmacy assistants should look out for Over The Counter this week as it offers them a chance to win a Ford Ka. The Over The Counter Awards, sponsored by Nestle Build-Up Nutrition, allow pharmacy assistants to vote for the best new...

Pharmacists give cautious welcome to OTC statin.
February 7, 2004... Pharmacy representatives have welcomed the proposal to reclassify simvastatin as a Pharmacy medicine but want more information on how the drug will be used and monitored. The MHRA has yet to announce if the POM to P switch will go ahead....

Free movement of services across Europe could impact on UK.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... A European Commission proposal to make it easier for businesses to provide services across national borders could impact on the UK's pharmacy control of entry regulations. The draft directive seeks to remove legal and administrative...

NPA launches interactive training CD-Rom.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... The NPA has launched two training modules in an interactive CD-Rom format for community pharmacists. Focusing on pharmacy legislation, and prescribing and dispensing issues, the CD-Roms are easy to use and suitable for continuing...

Pharmacist `learned lesson'.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... A Glasgow pharmacist struck off for defrauding the NHS has been restored to the RPSGB's Register. Fraser Oswin Smith of Bishopbriggs in Glasgow lost his business and was forced to move house after being struck off by the Royal...

Visions of Science photographic awards.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... The annual Novartis and Daily Telegraph Visions of Science photographic awards are open for entries again. This year the competition has a new category, entitled Medicine and Life, in addition to the existing categories of Action, Close-up,...

Methadone was poorly stored.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has reprimanded a pharmacist convicted of keeping out-of-date methadone in a yellow plastic bin at his Holloway pharmacy. The Statutory Committee told Chanadrakant Patel in July last year that he would...

Labour MP backs campaign to take VAT off medicines.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... A senior Labour MP has backed the campaign for VAT to be removed from over the counter medicines. Dr Howard Stoate, a ministerial aide and chairman of the All-Party Pharmacy Group at the Commons, told C&D he would support the campaign for...

VMS supporters challenge EU.(vitamins, minerals, supplements)
February 7, 2004... The High Court has referred the dispute over the proposed EU Food Supplements Directive to the European Court of Justice. The Directive aims to harmonise rules on vitamins, minerals and supplements across the EU from August 1, 2005 but the...

Moss awards branches.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Five Moss Pharmacy branches have won its Branch of Britain Award. Sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, the award recognises excellence in product knowledge and customer service. The winning branches are Bransholme, Larkhall, Friary...

Acambis closes UK vaccine centre.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Acambis is closing its Cambridge, UK vaccines research centre with the loss of 40 jobs in order to focus on its pipeline of development-stage projects. It still has a research facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts but will retain clinical...

Boots switches to Unipart.(Unipart)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Boots Group is transferring its supply chain operations and management of its D82 Warehouse to logistics company Unipart. Six hundred Boots' staff will transfer as part of the 10-year deal and an additional 300 jobs will be created to cope with...

Hamacher has category management plans for UK.(Hamacher Resource Group)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... A category management initiative aimed at small chains and independent pharmacies is to be launched across the UK in March by the Hamacher Resource Group's UK subsidiary. It is based on a similar scheme which has been running in the USA for...

Nucare reorganises.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Nucare has reorganised its board in a bid "meet members' needs and to prepare for the future. Mahesh Shah remains as managing director and Veni Harania remains as chairman, while Hiten Rawal, previously retail director, has expanded his...

New VAT rules on medical services.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... The European Court of Justice has ruled that certain medical services, including some provided by pharmacists, are VAT exempt. Services which have a therapeutic aim for the protection and maintenance of human health are exempt. There is no...

UPDATE WINNERS: The winners take it all.
February 7, 2004... Pharmacists all over the country have been battling it out in the Update Knockout. Fiona Salvage caught up with 2003's winners Close. Very close. The first Pharmacy Update Knockout was fought tooth and nail to the very end. Of the 400...

PAGB PERSPECTIVE: The postman always rings twice.
February 7, 2004... A recent European ruling has confirmed the status of OTC mail order services, with implications for pharmacy, warns Sheila Kelly, PAGB director In the past, when distribution of medicines was discussed in Europe, the UK was the outsider....

OPINION.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Last week's question was: In light of the Common's vote on tuition fees and the Hutton report, do you think Tony Blair should step down as Prime Minister? "In the light of Hutton, yes; but not over tuition fees, as whichever government was...

Comment from the Editor.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
February 7, 2004... So Which? has done it again. Another survey shows that unsatisfactory advice has been given on 35 occasions in pharmacies. It is a positive sign that the health minister was sympathetic towards the profession and reconfirmed her support for...

Letter: Writing to avoid Which? criticism.(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2004... The Consumers' Association has yet again done an undercover survey of pharmacies to assess the quality of the advice given. Forty two per cent of pharmacies gave "unsatisfactory" advice. The worst advice was given to researchers who said they...

Letter: Wanting and eating the generic cake.(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2004... Xrayser (C&D Jan 17, p17) believes that most generic scripts with brands are unintentional. I don't think so. It is a case of doctors wanting their cake and eating it. They write generically to reach their `generic target' to get their...

NORTHERN IRELAND NOTEBOOK: Home, sweet home?(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Mrs McOwens lives in a local residential home for the elderly and has been a difficult customer for too long. Her curt abusive telephone calls, some promising legal action if medicines are not delivered within the hour, are as unreasonable as...

Tin men of the future?(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... At #500,000 each, I don't expect many pharmacists will be in a hurry to replace their conventional pharmacy with a robotic version in the style of Hassan Argomandkhah's (C&D January 31, p4). However, this "pilot site" gives a flavour of things...

Ask and ye shall find.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... My advice can sometimes be of help and can even be gratefully received. The other day a customer asked my advice on behalf of his wife who was suffering from chronic diarrhoea. I followed all the protocols and was just about to refer his wife...

Snow in winter? Whatever next?(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Despite at least a week's warning of inclement weather, our local council seemed to be taken completely by surprise by the recent heavy snowfall and failed to grit any roads or pavements. Well aware of my responsibility to the public (in...

PHARMACY UPDATE: Congestion charge.
February 7, 2004... Walid Al-Safi gives an overview of nasal congestion and how to deal with the resulting blocked nose It's an action we make over 23,000 times a day and yet hardly give it a second thought. It's easy enough to take breathing freely for...

Another HRT trial terminated.
February 7, 2004... Two studies into hormone replacement therapy after breast cancer have generated conflicting results. The two Swedish studies - HABITS and Stockholm - followed women who were taking HRT to control menopausal symptoms after being treated for...

Decapeptyl SR 11.25mg.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Ipsen has launched a three-monthly sustained release injection of Decapeptyl SR 11.25mg (triptorelin) for treating advanced prostate cancer. Decapeptyl SR 11.25mg is a synthetic decapeptide analogue of natural gonadotrophin-releasing...

3M stops six products.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... 3M Health Care has announced that it is discontinuing six products in the UK this year for commercial reasons. 3M will no longer supply the following products after these dates: March 3 - Intralgin Gel (5 per cent salicylamide, 2 per...

Gopten 4mg introduced.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Abbott is adding Gopten (trandolapril) 4mg capsules to its existing 0.5mg, 1mg and 2mg capsule strengths. Gopten 4mg is available in a 28 capsule, 2 x 14 calendar pack. Price: #14.24 (basic NHS price) Pip code: 301-0154 Abbott UK...

Ileo Gel on DT.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... B Braun Medical has announced that Ileo Gel Super absorbent tablets for solidifying liquid stools are now listed in the Drug Tariff. B Braun claims that the gel makes the pouch easier to empty, and the filter is less likely to block at...

DT pricing errors.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... There are three price errors in the February Drug Tariff Part VIII. The products are: Lansoprazole capsules 15mg (e/c granules), 28 pack, reads 1168p but should be 1298p; Lansoprazole capsules 30mg (e/c granules), 14 pack, reads 1069p...

Zispin SolTab.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Organon has added three more presentations of Zispin SolTab (mirtazapine orodispersible tablets) for treating depressive illness to its 30mg versions. The new presentations are: 15mg x 6; 15mg x 30; and 45mg x 30. For more information: See...

Enbrel for AS.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Enbrel (etanercept) is now licensed for the treatment of adults with severe ankylosing spondylitis who have not responded adequately to conventional treatment. The drug is self-administered subcutaneously at a dose of 25mg twice weekly. It...

Glibenese available.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Pfizer has advised that Glibenese (glipizide) Tabs 5mg x 28 are still available. It has discontinued the generic glipizide tablets (5mg x 28) only. For more information: Pfizer Tel: 01304 645100 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Glucosamine Joint-Flex are easy to swallow.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Health Perception is launching an easy-to-swallow addition to its glucosamine range. Joint-Flex liquid glucosamine is available in GlucOsamine Liquid and GlucOsamine and Chondroitin Liquid. Formulated to help maintain joint health, the...

Soothing duo is Benylin latest.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... The Benylin range is being extended with two cough medicines to help relieve the symptoms of tickly coughs. Benylin Children's Tickly Coughs is a soothing, apple-flavoured syrup containing glycerol. Suitable for children from three months,...

Diet and detox in 10 days.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Arkopharma is launching a French natural plant extract diet and detox drink into the UK. 4321 Shake Up is a blend of 10 plant extracts designed to aid slimming in conjunction with a calorie controlled diet. Ingredients include extracts...

Cod liver oil campaign is in the best of taste.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Seven Seas is supporting NeutraTaste taste-free cod liver oil with a #500,000 advertising campaign. The three-month campaign will appear in national press colour supplements and women's magazines. The advertisements refresh the `You...

Calypso tanning finished in a flash.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Linco Care is extending its Calypso suncare range with three new products for 2004. Self Tanning Spray is formulated to dry within five minutes, providing a natural looking tan without streaks. The easy-to-use spray action makes the...

Lynx helps men to Recover.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Lever Faberge is introducing a shower gel into the Lynx range. Lynx Recover has a stimulating fragrance to help men wake up and feel refreshed and revitalised. The product is designed to help drive male self-purchase sales and...

Digestive disorders top poll.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Digestive disorders are the most popular category for an OTC switch, pharmacists have concluded in a recent IMS Health poll. They also rate drugs for migraine, psoriasis and antibiotics for lower urinary tract infections as ideal candidates...

Summer shades.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... FosterGrant has unveiled its 2004 collection of sunglasses. The range includes over 100 sunglasses with numerous new styles and simplified price points. Generic display stands are available plus interchangeable and extendable pegs and...

Seal of approval.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... A Califig training booklet entitled An introduction to constipation has been awarded the NPA Training Seal. It is aimed at pharmacy assistants. For more information: Seven Seas Tel: 01482 375234 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Seeing double.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... OKVision has introduced three-month contact lens solution value packs of Optifree Express and Renu for independent pharmacies. Price: Optifree Express two 355ml #16.95, Renu two 355ml #17.50. OKVision Tel: 020 8632 1550 Copyright:...

Lux makes a clean sweep.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... March will see a relaunch for the Lux brand and the introduction of a range of bath and shower products. The new Lux range builds on the brand's skin cleansing credentials and is aimed at women who are looking for affordable luxury. ...

Sunsilk smoothes the way.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Lever Faberge is extending its Sunsilk haircare range with two new variants to address specific hair problems. Sunsilk Smoothing products (suitable for hair prone to kinks or frizz) include Smoothing Shampoo, Conditioner and Instant...

CONTINENCE: Go with the flow.
February 7, 2004... Sales of incontinence products are growing fast. Steve Bremer explains how pharmacists can grow the category still further The bladder weakness market is worth over #31 million, with potential total value estimated at over #100m. This is a...

CONTINENCE: Marketing news.
February 7, 2004... Kimberly-Clark has launched a #1.5m nationwide television advertising campaign for its Poise range. It is targeting women aged 45 plus and will be supported by consumer press advertising this month. Poise is the fastest growing brand, with a 40...

INSIGHT: We have LIFT off.(Local Finance Initiative Trusts)
February 7, 2004... In the first part of a two-week feature, Asha Fowells looks at the first primary care centres paid for by Local Finance Initiative Trusts, which will open later this year Last summer UniChem chairman Mike Smith said that NHS LIFT would...

Boots Group - Appointment.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Tim Parker has joined the board of Boots Group Plc as a non-executive director. Mr Parker is currently also chief executive of Kwik-Fit and a non-executive director of Legal & General Plc. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

PharmacyHealthLink - Appointment.(PharmacyHealthLink)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... PharmacyHealthLink has named Jim McEwan as chairman with immediate effect. Professor McEwan is currently emeritus professor of public health and senior research fellow at Glasgow University and chairman of the board of the voluntary register of...

Chiltern International - Appointment.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Chiltern International has announced the appointment of Ed Richards as UK director of operations. Prior to this Dr Richards was the vice- president of clinical development organisation PRA International. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Taro Pharmaceuticals - Appointment.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Taro Pharmaceuticals has appointed Richard Anderson as managing director for Europe. Mr Anderson has spent the last three years on secondment at the company's head office in New York where he worked in strategic planning and business...

Feeling a bit kranky?(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Well, you might be if you follow the `health' tips of a German newspaper. Last week's glossy supplement to the Suddeutsche Zeitung gave a run down of the "seven best cocktails for the winter season". It suggested that because there is so...

Diclofenac kills off vultures.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... A paper in the journal Nature states that vultures are dying out in India and Pakistan as a result of diclofenac use. Post mortem examinations of the birds showed they had suffered gout and kidney damage that the researchers say was caused by...

35 years for gluten-free Godfather.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Richard Ward has two reasons to celebrate in 2004. Not only will his company, Gluten Free Foods Ltd, be 10 years old, but he will have spent 35 years working in the special dietary needs industry. Mr Ward's interest in the gluten- and...

Blank doodle cards on sale.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Blank doodle cards went on sale in Lloydspharmacy stores this week to raise money for Epilepsy Action and the Neurofibromatosis Association. For a minimum donation of #1, customers hand in their doodles which will be looked at by a panel of...

OTC: COMMENT.
February 7, 2004... What's your problem? Hands that need a little TLC, feet which show the effects of a job involving long hours standing up, creaking joints, the need for a little music in the staff room, a reason to celebrate but no fizz in the fridge, or a...

OTC: Sales soar after a fishy success story.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... BR Pharmaceuticals reports soaring sales of its Omega 3 oils range after a TV programme suggested it could help boost children's brain power. The BBC's Child of Our Times series reported on an experiment in which disruptive children were...

OTC: Looking after men.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Women play a pivotal role in their male partners' health, according to a survey carried out among Women's Institute members. The survey revealed that almost a quarter of the 1,472 women who responded mistakenly believe prostate problems...

OTC: Winning ways with Over The Counter.
February 7, 2004... Congratulations to these Over The Counter readers who are winners from the last issue. Sue Suchak, of Farnsfield Pharmacy, near Newark, and Heather Sutton, of Gibbs & Gurnell, at Ryde on the Isle of Wight, each win a 12-week course of...

OTC: Four-part training programme coming soon!(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Over The Counter has teamed up with Dendron - distributors of leading pharmacy brands such as Ibuleve, Otex, 4Head and Bazuka - to create a series of informative guides, tailored specifically for pharmacy assistants, to commonly encountered...

OTC: Dead Sea success.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Dead Sea Spa Magik Hair Magic Serum has been voted Best Conditioner in the Woman Fashion & Beauty Awards 2003. Beauty editors Jocelyn Bailey and Caroline Hogg called it `a stonking performer' and say it 'leaves parched or unruly hair...

OTC: Mums love Calpol.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Calpol has been named Best Health Product for 2003 at the Mother & Baby Awards. The awards were decided by readers of the magazine, who voted for their favourites. Pfizer expects the award to boost sales. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

OTC: Olbas site.(Olbas for Children)(www.olbas.co.uk/children )(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Olbas for Children has its own new consumer microsite. The site - www.olbas.co.uk/children - has been designed to act as an advice centre for parents. Tabs on the page direct users to advice on dealing with children's colds, the effect of...

OTC: New owner.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... William Ransom, the natural healthcare company, has bought the OTC brands of J Pickles, including Snufflebabe, Mijex, Fiery Jack and Wartex. The brands will be distributed through Food Brokers. Ransom's existing brands include Radian B,...

OTC: Seven Seas goes dancing.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Seven Seas has joined forces with the English National Ballet and the Arthritis Research Campaign (arc) to alert people to the dangers of bad shoe choices and over-exertion, which the company says is fuelling an osteoarthritis epidemic among UK...

OTC: Elsie's silver jubilee.(West Midlands Co-op )(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Congratulations to Elsie Smith, who has clocked up 25 years as a pharmacy dispenser with the West Midlands Co-op in Kidderminster. She has worked at the Co-op superstore at Franche Road since it moved from its former premises in the town....

OTC: It's a treat for Jayne.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Pharmacy assistant Jayne Lawson is off for a day's pampering as the winner of the latest Reader Treat in conjunction with Orovite 7. Jayne has worked at Broomwood pharmacy in Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire, for eight and a half years and...

OTC: Putting the Plus+ in Andrews.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare has expanded the Andrews brand with Andrews Plus+. The sugar-free, orange-flavoured product is an effervescent powder formulated to relieve the after effects of overindulgence. Andrews Plus+ contains...

OTC: Benylin tackles the tickle for children.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... The latest addition to the Benylin cough medicine range is Children's Tickly Coughs, a soothing, apple-flavoured syrup with glycerol suitable for babies from three months. The syrup (125ml, #3.29) is free from sugar and colouring and...

OTC: HealthAid specialises.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Supplements specialist HealthAid is launching its new Specialised HealthCare range for 2004, featuring a new packaging design. The new range is designed to cover common conditions which customers regularly ask about and includes:...

OTC: Glucosamine goes liquid.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Health Perception is launching an easy-to-swallow addition to its glucosamine range. Joint-Flex liquid glucosamine is available in GlucOsamine Liquid (300ml, #7.99) and GlucOsamine and Chondroitin Liquid (300ml, #12.99). Formulated to...

OTC: NeutraTaste gets fresh and flexy.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Seven Seas is supporting the NeutraTaste cod liver oil brand with a new three-month press campaign. The full colour adverts refresh the imagery created for the `You Flexy Thing' TV campaign last year. The company's new joint category logo...

OTC: New look for Meltus.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... The seven-strong Meltus range has a dynamic new look. The new packs retain the brand's recognisable green colouring, but now feature powerful new images to reflect the mode of action and clearly indicate which member of the family they are...

OTC: Quiet promotion.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2004... Lanes' Quiet Life, the natural sedative brand, is being promoted on pharmasites with a four week burst at the end of March following a similar promotion in January. Quiet Life tablets contain B vitamins and the medicinal herbs valerian, hops,...