Chemist & Druggist articles from June 2008

Chemist & Druggist archives from June 2008

Comment from the Editor.(Editorial)
June 7, 2008... Medicines use reviews (MURs) are unsurprisingly a thorny issue in community pharmacy in England and Wales at the moment. The Pharmacists' Defence Association's finding that some employers could be putting their staff under unfair pressure...

Scotland set for services boost.
June 7, 2008... Additional national public health role expected to be announced within the week Jennifer Richardson Scottish pharmacists look set to gain additional national public health services as part of 2008-09 contract arrangements, C+D...

Society needs 30% support to succeed.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... The RPSGB needs the support of 30 per cent of the profession to ensure the success of a future professional leadership body. That is the proportion of current members needed to join the body to give it "credibility" once membership is...

C+D online MUR toolkit.(www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... C+D has launched an online medicines use review toolkit to aid pharmacists carrying out the advanced service (see p26). The MUR Zone, which is at www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/ murzone, has MUR tips listed by 20 conditions and 70 drug...

2009 retention fee proposals.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... The RPSGB has proposed an increase in retention fees for practising pharmacists of either 3.9 or 4.5 per cent for 2009. The choice between the two levels is dependent on proposals to reduce fees for pharmacists with annual incomes of less...

Churton named president.(Steve Churton appointed at Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Steve Churton, head of professional practice at Boots, has been elected president of the RPSGB's Council. Mr Churton secured 13 votes to Gerald Alexander's 12 votes, after the second round of voting. There was no clear winner after the...

IN BRIEF: July Drug Tariff.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... The DH was expected to release details of next month's category M adjustments as C+D went to press. But it has not managed to agree with PSNC changes to fees and allowances in time for the July Drug Tariff, despite what the contract negotiator...

IN BRIEF: Service pitch toolkit.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... The NPA is developing a toolkit to help pharmacists pitch services to PCTs. The practical workbook, expected to be ready by autumn, aims to help pharmacists to make commissioners aware of value-for-money aspects of their work. Copyright:...

IN BRIEF: NHS cut-carbon strategy.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... The government's carbon reduction strategy has been published for consultation. It highlights the need for all NHS organisations including pharmacists to reduce carbon emissions (see p37). Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Novartis picks AAH and UniChem in supply deal.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Discounts under the microscope, say the two appointed wholesalers Zoe Smeaton Novartis has announced a distribution deal to deliver medicines exclusively through UniChem and AAH. Both wholesalers said they were looking into the...

Wholesale market under threat.(Industry overview)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... The pharmaceutical wholesale market could face an uncertain future if manufacturers continue to sign distribution deals with only the larger operators, European experts have warned. Speaking at the annual general meeting of the European...

Awareness of EHC ethics rights needed.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... The RPSGB is considering ways to support pharmacists who do not want to provide particular services due to personal beliefs. The decision came after a Manchester pharmacist was criticised for refusing to supply emergency contraceptives. The...

Boots hits back in homeopathy sales row.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Retailer accused by academic of not providing sufficient information to customers Jennifer Richardson Boots has defended its sale of homeopathic remedies after an alternative therapy expert accused it of breaching ethical guidelines....

Dispensary Talk: 07.06.08.
June 7, 2008... Will you be dining at the RPSGB's new restaurant? "I certainly won't be paying it a visit, not even for discounted coffee and biscuits. What a waste of money." Raj Radia, Spring Pharmacy, London "If I had the time I'd love to do...

P&G: layout adds 10% to store sales.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Pharmacy retail sales could grow by as much as 10 per cent if stores were made easier to shop in, Procter & Gamble (P&G) has said. The company, whose brands include Gillette and Vicks, has launched its PharmacyCare Programme to help as...

IN BRIEF: BPSA special meeting.(Conference notes)
June 7, 2008... The British Pharmaceutical Students' Association is holding a special general meeting to discuss its future in the context of current changes to the profession. It will be held at the London School of Pharmacy on July 19 from 10.30am. ...

IN BRIEF: Rx txt service.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... A communications tool has been launched that will enable pharmacists to contact their patients about medicines via telephone or SMS text. Pharmacy management systems supplier Cegedim Rx has created the Message Dynamics computerised service that...

IN BRIEF: Edwards quits NPA.(Sarah Edwards )(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Sarah Edwards has resigned from the NPA board of management following her decision to leave the pharmacy profession. An election is to be held in July to fill one of the two allocated places for Wales on the board. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: MHRA challenges.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... The MHRA has published a summary of responses to its consultation on the medicines regulator's future priorities and challenges. The agency had already begun to implement suggestions through initiatives such as the Yellow Card publicity...

IN BRIEF: Vioxx victory.(cases against Merck & Company Inc.)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Appeals courts in Texas and New Jersey have reversed two rulings against Merck & Co in liability cases concerning its withdrawn Cox-2 inhibitor Vioxx. The Texas court reversed a 2005 judgement that was in favour of a woman who claimed her...

IN BRIEF: Heartfelt care.
June 7, 2008... Pharmacies in Flintshire will be giving information to people suffering from a heart condition as part of this week's British Heart Foundation's Help a Heart Week. The participants will advise people who have been prescribed glyceryl trinitrate...

Sole island contractor may give up dispensing.(Contract between United Kingdom. National Health Service and Scottish Island's Drugstores for Drug dispensing)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Alleged lack of funding for rural pharmacies puts Isle of Mull business in jeopardy Jennifer Richardson The owner of the only pharmacy on a remote Scottish Island has threatened to relinquish his NHS contract due to insufficient...

Political divide on NI regulation.(Northern Ireland)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Ministers in Northern Ireland have clashed over whether the country should go on regulating its own pharmacists. Health minister Michael McGimpsey stressed there was a "compelling" case for joining the UK-wide General Pharmaceutical...

Scotland to get increased drug rehab role.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Pharmacists could play a greater role in substance misuse treatment under the Scottish Government's national drugs strategy, industry representatives have said. Contract negotiator Community Pharmacy Scotland and principal pharmacist...

Under pressure to deliver MURs?(Medicines Use Review)(Clinical report)
June 7, 2008... Are staff being victimised as employers chase MUR targets? C+D investigates Bullying is not a problem confined to the school yard. One in four people are bullied at work, according to figures from anti-bullying charity the Andrea Adams...

FEATURE: Leaving Lambeth.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain's past president Hemant Patel tell her experience)
June 7, 2008... The outgoing RPSGB president tells Jennifer Richardson about life at the Society in his first interview since standing down The RPSGB has got its work cut out if it is to earn the support of members in forming a new professional leadership...

Xrayser: Who's responsible for this mess?(The main argument against vacancies advertising)
June 7, 2008... Situation vacant: no experience necessary, long breaks an option. This new Responsible Pharmacist position sounds like a cushy number and I expect lots of people to apply. Employees are bound to be paid more to be Responsible (rather than...

Irish eye: Tender hooks.(UK generic houses submit tenders )
June 7, 2008... Fellow columnist John D'Arcy (C+D, May 17, p12) raises for the first time an issue that is causing considerable nervousness among Northern Ireland's contractors. For some months, the spectre of a tendering process for generics has been...

Letter - Control of entry: does it kill competition?
June 7, 2008... It seems that all independents care deeply about the future of independent community pharmacy, that is, until they come to sell up and then it's every man for himself. I have been looking to buy my first pharmacy for about 18 months now....

Pharmacy Update: Dementia.(Clinical report)
June 7, 2008... The fourth of our series of articles on mental health reviews dementia, in particular Alzheimer's disease Key points * Four types of dementia contribute to 90 per cent of the cases seen: Alzheimer's disease is the most common and...

Clinical Alerts: New Products.(Lundbeck Ltd release Circadin 2mg prolonged)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Circadin 2mg prolonged-release tablets (melatonin) For short-term treatment of primary insomnia in adults aged 55 years and above. Lundbeck Ltd, tel: 01908 638972; ukmedicalinformation@lundbeck.com Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Clinical Alerts: SPC Changes.(GlaxoSmithKline PLC)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Avodart 0.5mg soft capsules (dutasteride) Extensive changes including information on the importance of risk assessment. GlaxoSmithKline UK, tel: 0800 221 441; customercontactuk @gsk.com http://emc.medicines.org.uk Copyright: CMP...

Clinical: Nice guidelines cause concern.(United Kingdom. National Institute for Clinical Excellence)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Nice guidelines on statin treatment and type 2 diabetes published this week have received mixed reviews. On statin treatment, the British Heart Foundation welcomed Nice's approach to identifying risk but said that relying on patients to...

IN BRIEF: Gout latest results.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Oral prednisolone and naproxen have been shown to be equally effective in treating gout over four days. The trial results appeared in The Lancet, May 31. www.thelancet.com Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Opioid constipation.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... A study of 133 patients with opioid-induced constipation has shown rapid laxation in patients treated with subcutaneous methylnaltrexone. The injections did not appear to affect the patient's analgesia or induce opioid withdrawal. ...

Product News: Pain gets the cold shoulder.(Laser Healthcare)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... A #900,000 multimedia campaign is supporting the WellPatch Deep Freeze Cold Patch this summer, says manufacturer Mentholatum. Spanning television, online and retail activity, the initiative is running until September. TV advertising is...

IN BRIEF: Be callous to calluses.(Zeon Healthcare Ltd. has introduced ClearZal Callus to remove calluses)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... ClearZal Callus creme has been relaunched. The registered medical device contains salicylic acid, trichloroacetic acid and urea, and claims to be clinically proven to remove calluses. The whole range is now available in Northern Ireland from...

Product News: Back in blue.(GlaxoSmithKline PLC conducted advertising campaign for Zantac 75)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Zantac 75 begins a national television campaign this week, aiming to drive trial and boost penetration over the summer, reports manufacturer GSK. The heartburn and indigestion remedy will be on air for five weeks in the #615,000 campaign. ...

Product News: Finding foot faults - fast!(Ark Therapeutics Ltd)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Neuropad is a new diagnostic test for the early symptoms of diabetic foot syndrome from Ark Therapeutics. It is said to be easy to use and cost effective. Patients can buy the test to use at home or pharmacists could offer testing as a...

Product News: Keep suncare handy.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Sachets of Uvistat SPF30 sun lotion are newly available. Containing 7.5ml, the sachets are designed for a single application to the head, face, neck and arms of a typical adult. Manufacturer LPC Medical hopes the sachets will appeal to...

Product News: Needle and dread.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Emla, the P-licensed local anaesthetic cream, is receiving a promotional boost from manufacturer AstraZeneca to raise awareness of its uses before injections and availability. Websites for consumers and professionals have been created, with...

Product News: First Response upgrade.(Church & Dwight Inc. )(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... An improved version of the First Response early result pregnancy test has been launched. The product claims to detect the pregnancy hormone hCG up to six days before a period is due. The packaging has been redesigned to show First...

Product News: New-look Calmurid.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Dry skin treatment Calmurid cream has been relaunched. The P medicine's new-look packaging is designed to be consumer friendly, eyecatching and modern. New packs will go on shelf in July. Calmurid contains urea (10 per cent w/w) and lactic...

Product News: It's a joint effort.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Javelin thrower Steve Backley is the new face of jointcare brand Lubramine. Steve, who won medals at three consecutive Olympic Games, is endorsing the product in marketing and PR activity. He will also figure on the brand's website and in the...

IN BRIEF: Boom time for H&B.(Health and beauty )(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Health and beauty is forecast to be the fastest growing retail sector in 2008, says retail information company Verdict Research. Male shoppers entering the market and women's desire for youthful looks are fuelling the growth, says the company....

IN BRIEF: Cool tool.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... A new fridge thermometer - the ETI 810-200 - from Electronic Temperature Instruments has two remote, waterproof temperature sensors to monitor two areas at once and an AV alarm to alert to variations in temperature. Price: #14 + VAT, ETI;...

How to... Advertise your pharmacy.
June 7, 2008... In this step by step guide, Paul Clapham demystifies the process of advertising your pharmacy services Being in business without advertising is like winking at a pretty girl in the dark. You know what you're doing and why, but nobody else...

How to advertise - Case study: from national to local.(Case study)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Let's look at Numark's experience. As the largest `virtual chain' of independent pharmacists in the UK, it has moved from national TV advertising to more local support for members. As trade marketing director Lynne Henshaw says, they wanted to...

Education: The pre-reg exam.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)
June 7, 2008... Alan Nathan offers guidance on calculations in the RPSGB registration examination One of the most important skills of a pharmacist is performing calculations, necessary not only for working out doses and quantities for formulae and...

Carbon reduction: The Green Cross road.(Carbon Reduction Strategy)
June 7, 2008... On the front of your pharmacy there's probably a big green cross. Now the government wants this to be community pharmacy's environment badge of honour. Rob Finch finds out why It takes conscious effort to avoid the path of least resistance,...

Data Protection: How to... Keep your data secret.
June 7, 2008... A breach of the Data Protection Act could land you with a #5,000 fine and a spell in prison. Andrew Dyson offers a step by step guide to keeping on the right side of the law When HM Revenue and Customs admitted to losing discs containing...

Postscript: On her bike.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... A Co-operative Pharmacy employee has cycled from Essex to Amsterdam to raise money for charity. Communications manager Lucy Verlander completed the 185-mile trek from Stansted to the Dutch capital with her brother and a friend. She...

Postscript: Boom time ads.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... A seven ton truck filled with equipment and explosives, and a camera set up behind bulletproof glass are not things you would usually associate with pharmacy. But while the new pharmacy posters for GSK's Solpadeine Plus might take a second to...

Postscript: Moving on.(appointments)(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Avicenna has appointed Raj Haria as director of sales and business development. The buying group created the role, which will include strengthening member services and facilitating business partnerships, to accommodate its expansion plans. Mr...

Postscript: Fertility fame.(Brief article)
June 7, 2008... Pharmacists offering even basic advice on fertility could be competing for their patients' attention against some unlikely sources of information. A study of 1,000 people by Clearblue found that almost a quarter (23 per cent) may have...

Comment from the Editor: 14.06.08.(forecasts and trends in pharmacy)(Editorial)
June 14, 2008... Who would want to be a community pharmacist? The job has changed beyond compare in recent years and this week's news agenda alone gives an insight into the number of issues pharmacists need to keep on top of. Turn the page and everything from...

Boots profits from surge in MURs.(Boots Company PLC)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... Parent company reports 20 per cent hike in trading profits as pharmacy staff perform 384,000 MURs Jennifer Richardson Boots pharmacists more than doubled their MUR output last year, to contribute to a 20 per cent increase in trading...

DTP deals come up trumps for UniChem.
June 14, 2008... Changes to the wholesale market are one of Alliance Boots' "great opportunities", group executive chairman Stefano Pessina has said. As a large market player, direct to pharmacy and streamlined wholesale deals gave the company the...

Boots results - key issues.(Alliance Boots Ltd. relocate its headquarters from the UK to Switzerland)(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... Relocation, relocation Alliance Boots will relocate its headquarters from the UK to Switzerland. Stefano Pessina said: "The reality is that in the UK we are seen as a retail company... we believe we are a healthcare company." However,...

CfH publishes EPS release 2 updates.(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... Connecting for Health has published updated estimates from pharmacy system suppliers on when they expect to be compliant with release 2 of the electronic prescription service. Most suppliers estimate they will be ready by autumn or earlier,...

IN BRIEF: EPS 2 system warning.(Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee)(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... PSNC has issued a warning to contractors signing up for pharmacy IT systems before they achieve compliance with release 2 of the Electronic Prescriptions Service. It says they should ensure their contract will enable them to cancel if their...

IN BRIEF: NCSO update.(Wales. National Assembly and United Kingdom. Department of Health agreed to allow NCSO endorsements )(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... The Department of Health and the National Assembly for Wales have agreed to allow NCSO endorsements for the following items for June prescriptions: pseudoephedrine 60mg tablets, bisacodyl 5mg gastro- resistant tablets, bisacodyl 10mg...

IN BRIEF: MUR evaluation sites.
June 14, 2008... The NPA and the Primary Care Pharmacists' Association have selected four pilot sites to take part in their MUR support and evaluation programme, which will evaluate the effectiveness of MURs and develop best practice. The sites are Blackpool...

IN BRIEF: NHS cuts debts.(national health services)(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... The NHS now has a #1.658 billion surplus, up from #515 million last year, the DH has announced. New final quarter figures show the gross deficit of the health service is now #122m, down from #917m last year. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Men's Health awareness.(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... The Men's Health Forum has called for a shift in policy in favour of delivering health improvement services in the workplace, and launched a Men and Work manual as part of Men's Health Week. The group is looking at ways to encourage men to use...

IN BRIEF: Service recognition.(Bill Scott)(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... Professor Bill Scott, chief pharmaceutical offer to the Scottish Government, has received an award for outstanding services to pharmacists. It was presented by Hemant Patel, former president of the RPSGB, who said professor Scott was "a true...

Switch problems persist.(Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee)(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... PSNC will make an announcement on compensation payouts "shortly" Jennifer Richardson Contractors are still reporting up to 10-fold increases in prescription switching, as PSNC continues its negotiations with the Department of Health...

Sparks set to fly over polyclinics.(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... The Department of Health has refused to send a speaker to a debate on the future of polyclinics organised by the all-party pharmacy group (APPG), as the furore over the threatened changes to primary care increases. The DH was invited to...

Category M `relatively stable' this quarter.(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... Category M remained relatively stable this quarter, generics experts have said. The heads of both Teva Generics and Sigma Pharmaceuticals expressed hope that the July tariff, published by the DH last week, indicated increased stability for...

No multiple bias, says new RPSGB president.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Steve Churton)(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... New RPSGB president Steve Churton, pictured below, has pledged his commitment to impartially representing members in both multiple and independent community pharmacy. The reassurance from Boots' head of professional practice came after C+D...

Poor self-promotion puts businesses at risk.(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... Eight out of 10 pharmacists think they don't do enough to market their services Zoe Smeaton Pharmacy operators are not doing enough to sell their services to a wider audience despite an overall increase in marketing activity, a survey...

AZ's own-brand MUR scheme attracts nearly 1,000 pharmacists.(AstraZeneca PLC)(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... Over 900 pharmacists have registered with AstraZeneca's Making the Most of Your Medicines scheme since its launch in March. And 150 of those have completed training for the patient adherence programme, which could see pharmacists earning up...

GP relations must be incentivised, say experts.(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... Money talks when it comes to pharmacy GP relations, say academics Rob Finch Pharmacists and GPs must be incentivised to work together to bring about improvements in the health of the public, pharmacy academics claim. Taking a lead...

Dispensary Talk: 14.06.08.(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... Have manufacturer-led supply deals made your life easier or harder? "Overall, they've made it harder - sometimes we promise customers products and we can't get them in time. Sometimes they take their prescription elsewhere." Gurminder...

Scots support drug strategy.(Community Pharmacy Scotland )(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) has pledged to work with the Scottish Government (SG) to develop pharmacists' role in drug misuse. The contract negotiator applauded the SG's national drugs strategy, published two weeks ago, and its focus...

RPSGB fee subsidy for low earners backed.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... Pharmacists have backed proposals to subsidise the RPSGB membership fees of colleagues earning less than #16,500 a year. The Society is asking the profession to pay an extra #18 in practising retention fees, some of which will help...

The Big Interview: Terry Scicluna.(Occupation overview)
June 14, 2008... The UniChem managing director speaks out on a distribution revolution, world class service and the `visionary' Pfizer DTP deal. Max Gosney reports Overcoming resistance to change is something of a forte for Terry Scicluna, UniChem managing...

Xrayser: The best of British to you, Mr Churton.(Steve Churton)(Occupation overview)
June 14, 2008... Who is Steve Churton? He must be a brave man because he could be the last ever president of a dual function Pharmaceutical Society and his role could be little more than to turn the lights out as everybody leaves. If Mr Churton lasts as...

Pharmacist in the House: Stat Com shadow lifts as grip is loosened.(Viewpoint essay)
June 14, 2008... I was cheered to read that Pharmaceutical Society Inspectors are to be allowed to deal with some of the more minor fitness to practise cases, thereby reducing the number of pharmacists facing more formal procedures. Contrary to the popular...

Letter: Working together to transform opinion of the RPSGB.(Letter to the editor)
June 14, 2008... I read with interest the comments made by Hemant Patel in his interview with C+D last week (June 7, p12). As the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's new president, I am acutely aware of the challenge we face in preparing the profession for the...

Letter: Independent pharmacies can win the war on customer loyalty.(Letter to the editor)
June 14, 2008... For the last three years, pharmacists have been examining their remuneration with increasing concern. Category M cuts and changes to the PPRS have come on top of the changed contract to hit pharmacy balance sheets and have created a very...

Pharmacy Update: Professionalism and duty of care.
June 14, 2008... The first of a series of articles on ethics considers the repercussions of prescribing errors Key points * The pharmacist's duty of care requires more than just spotting obvious dispensing errors. * Pharmacists are expected to...

Clinical Alerts: MHRA alerts.(Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency)(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... Class 4 Drug Alert (Caution in use): Enoxaparin Sodium (Clexane) pre- filled syringes Supply update and advice to prescribers on shortage of 150mg syringes and use in pregnancy. http://tinyurl.com/59kx4u MHRA Drug Safety Update latest issue...

Clinical Alerts: SPC Changes.(Lamisil Tablets 250mg )(Otrivine Child Nasal Drops )(Biorphen)(Brief article)
June 14, 2008... Lamisil Tablets 250mg (terbinafine) Information on interactions. Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK: 01276 692255, medicalinfo.phgbfr @novartis.com Otrivine Child Nasal Drops (xylometazoline hydrochloride) Restriction in use with children under...