Chemist & Druggist articles from May 2004

Chemist & Druggist archives from May 2004

Minister commits to contract funding.
May 1, 2004... Health minister Rosie Winterton has said she is committed to fully funding the new pharmacy contract to make it work, but she made it clear in an exclusive C&D interview that any extra money will have to come out of the overall NHS budget. ...

Update MCQ enclosed.
May 1, 2004... This week's issue contains the questionnaire for the following Pharmacy Update modules carried in April: * Cystic fibrosis part 2 (1299) * Parkinson's part 1 (1300) * Parkinson's part 2 (1301). Pharmacy Update is a distance...

MP backs pharmacy.(Howard Stoate, All-Party Pharmacy Group)
May 1, 2004... Community pharmacists' skills are under-used because of limitations in the current contract, the House of Commons has heard. Speaking at an Opposition Day Debate, All-Party Pharmacy Group chairman Dr Howard Stoate said: "Pharmacists are...

Wysoy recall.(from SMA Nutrition)
May 1, 2004... SMA Nutrition is recalling some of its soya infant formula after pieces of metal were found in four cans. The cans affected are SMA Wysoy 860g with a best before date of August 28, 2006. Wyeth has advised that pharmacists should quarantine...

Stock shortages.
May 1, 2004... The National Prescription Research Centre has been notified by AAH and UniChem of the following stock shortages: Mianserin Tablets BP 10mg, 20mg and 30mg; and calcium and ergocalciferol tablets 400IU (expected to be a long-term problem). ...

#7.5bn Rx cost in 2003.(prescription drugs )
May 1, 2004... Nearly 650 million prescription items were dispensed at a cost of over #7.5 billion in England during 2003, Department of Health figures show. The biggest area of expenditure was cardiovascular medicines, which accounted for over a quarter...

Scots plan future for the NHS.(United Kingdom. National Health Service)
May 1, 2004... Scottish health minister Malcolm Chisholm has appointed an expert group to see how the NHS can plan and deliver better healthcare services in Scotland. The group will develop a national framework for service change in line with the aims of...

BBC1 series.(Roddy Morrison, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)
May 1, 2004... The RPSGB's librarian Roddy Morrison will appear in a BBC1 series to be screened in the summer called Medical Mysteries. Mr Morrison helped the BBC to investigate the reasons for unusually high levels of arsenic found in a strand of King George...

New NPA chairman.(National Planning Association)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Ashok Soni is the new NPA chairman, the NPA announced following its board meeting this week. Rajesh Patel takes over as vice-chairman, and Wally Dove continues as treasurer. Replacing the retiring board members are: Robert Curd; Ian Facer; Bob...

PPRS price cuts will damage R&D.(Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme)
May 1, 2004... Reducing branded medicines' prices in the UK may cause other European countries to follow suit, impacting on research and development, a pharmaceutical industry expert has said. The UK Government is likely to demand price cuts during the...

Plans for June OTC statin launch.(over the counter drugs)
May 1, 2004... J&J. MSD Consumer Pharmaceuticals is hoping simvastatin 10mg will be licensed as a P medicine by the end of May. The company plans to launch Zocor Heart-Pro, its simvastatin version, at the end of June or beginning of July. A Heart-Pro...

Success for weight audit.
May 1, 2004... More than half the patients using a pharmacy weight management programme lost significant amounts of weight, audit results have shown. Of the 356 patients registered at the six pharmacies surveyed, 61 per cent were deemed to have...

Do not use paroxetine in children, EU body says.
May 1, 2004... Products containing paroxetine should carry clear warnings stating that they should not be used in children and adolescents, the European drug regulatory body has said. Clinical trial data has suggested that the antidepressant could cause...

MHRA rules on AAH and Nurofen adverts.(Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)(AAH Pharmaceuticals Ltd.)
May 1, 2004... A complaint about adverts in an AAH Pharmaceuticals brochure has been upheld by the MHRA but an advert in a Crookes Healthcare mail shot has been cleared. Two adverts in an AAH brochure distributed to Vantage Pharmacies contained...

Men would rather visit GP than local pharmacy.
May 1, 2004... Twice as many men seek health advice from their GP as go to their local pharmacy, a health education charity survey found. Over 90 per cent of men seek advice from their GP, 48 per cent turn to their partner or wife but only 44 per cent are...

Future acne gel free of side effects.
May 1, 2004... Scientists have identified a naturally occurring bacteriophage that reduces the density of Propriobacterium acnes, the bacteria responsible for acne. A topical formulation containing the phage would be more specific than benzoyl peroxide...

MSD puts up #5,000 pharmacy award.
May 1, 2004... The sixth MSD joint pharmacy award to promote closer working between community and hospital pharmacists is now open to applicants for 2004. The #5,000 award, which is a joint initiative of the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, the NPA and...

Ex-president puts Charter on AGM agenda.(David Sharpe)
May 1, 2004... A former RPSGB president has questioned the procedure behind the Society's application for a new Charter. Highlighting members' concerns over the RPSGB's future as the representative body for pharmacists, David Sharpe has asked the Society...

Expert witness.
May 1, 2004... Mr Sharpe has given evidence as an expert witness in the current legal case between the Save Our Society campaigners and the RPSGB. He submitted evidence in an affidavit earlier this month. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IPMI and CPP look at collaboration.(Institute of Pharmacy Management International)(College of Pharmacy Practice)
May 1, 2004... The Institute of Pharmacy Management International and the College of Pharmacy Practice are jointly exploring areas for co-operation in education. Larry Hurst, IPMI chairman, and Ian Simpson, CPP chief executive, said this week that there...

Electronic Drug Tariff goes online.(Prescription Pricing Authority services)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The Prescription Pricing Authority has launched an electronic version of the Drug Tariff on its website at www.ppa.org.uk. Updated weekly, it will provide free access to the National Health Services Drug Tariff for England and Wales,...

Sanofi takeover of Aventis goes ahead with #36bn bid.(Sanofi Synthelabo)
May 1, 2004... Aventis has agreed to takeover terms from Sanofi-Synthelabo after Sanofi made a renewed #36 billion `friendly' bid for its larger French rival. The combined group will be the third largest drug company in the world after Pfizer and...

UniChem ups commercial support.(National Westminster Bank PLC to provide service)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... UniChem has launched a commercial support programme for its customers, in association with NatWest. UniChem's commercial support already provides finance for independent pharmacists to buy or improve their own business. This new programme...

Sessions of York accreditation.(quality certification)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Pharmaceutical labelling supplier Sessions of York has achieved PS9000:2001 accreditation, the new quality management system which extends the scope of ISO 9001:2000. Sessions supplies the pharma market with labels and labelling systems from a...

Insurance intermediaries in FSA check.(United Kingdom. Financial Services Authority)
May 1, 2004... A new EU directive could lead to pharmacists, dentists and veterinary surgeons who sell insurance to their customers needing to be registered with the Financial Services Authority. The Insurance Mediation Directive comes into force in...

Thomson Local.(NHS Direct is launching a new health guide)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... NHS Direct is launching a new health guide in Thomson Local telephone directories delivered across England. The directories will be distributed to over 18 million households in England over the next year and include a 64-page self-help...

Sigma-Aldrich buys Ultrafine.(Ultrafine )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Manchester drug discovery research operation Ultrafine has been bought by US life sciences company Sigma-Aldrich for #12 million. Ultrafine supplies ingredients for clinical trials as well as research. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Medela in UK.(opened a branch office at Manchester)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Breast-feeding products manufacturer Medela has opened a UK branch office at Huntsman Drive, Northbank Industrial Park, Irlam, Manchester M44 5 EG. Medela UK Ltd supplies the Mini Electric breast pump to Boots, John Lewis, Mothercare and...

PI complaints.(parallel imports)
May 1, 2004... Health minister Rosie Winterton claims in the past 12 months the MHRA has received 107 complaints relating to medicinal products that have been repackaged and placed on the market in the United Kingdom as licensed parallel imports. These...

York Pharma's aim.(seeks admission of shares)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... York Pharma Plc, developer and marketer of dermatology products, intends to seek admission of its shares on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. Terry Sadler, York Pharma chief executive, said: "We believe the...

Animal rights victims lobby MPs for support.
May 1, 2004... Targets of animal rights extremism from across the UK launched The Victims of Animal Rights Extremism (VARE) group last week at a reception at the House of Commons. VARE members are lobbying MPs for support, claiming they have been...

Number of studies using animals.(Uppsala University )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Researchers at Sweden's Uppsala University have reported a fall of 30 per cent in the number of studies using animals over the last 30 years. The team compared almost 3,000 published research papers, which they claim also showed an...

Invoicing help from Positive Solutions.(new software package )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Pharmacy EPoS supplier Positive Solutions is offering Mawdsleys' customers a new software package for speedy electronic invoicing. The Analyst software includes a facility for downloading electronic invoices only 20 minutes after sending...

Low cost banking from NPA.(National Pharmaceutical Association)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The NPA has joined forces with Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank to provide a banking service for members which offers preferential rates for business banking and loans. Through NPA PharMoney, members can benefit from competitive...

Cash for small businesses.
May 1, 2004... Small businesses in deprived areas can get more support thanks to a #10.5 million Government fund. The money will help support the growing network of Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). These provide finance and business...

Lloyds eyes Scottish prison contract.(Lloydspharmacy)
May 1, 2004... Lloydspharmacy has revealed that it could be among those tendering for the national contract to provide pharmaceutical supplies and services to the Scottish Prison Service (SPS). The contract covers 15 directly managed establishments across...

RPSiW must broaden role.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Wales)
May 1, 2004... Welsh chief pharmacist Carwen Wynne Howells has highlighted how the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Wales could play a greater part in health and social care. In her presentation, Getting the Connections Right, to the Society's Welsh...

Amisulpride delay.(Sterwin Medicines)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Sterwin Medicines has announced that it has not yet started selling amisulpride tablets. Details of the product have already been listed in C&D's Generics reference book dated April to September 2004. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Confident.(The Shop and Display Equipment Association)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The Shop and Display Equipment Association's half yearly survey claims a significant increase in business confidence with nearly 77 per cent of respondents benefiting from an increase in sales during the second half of 2003. Over 35 per...

Comment from the Editor.
May 1, 2004... Warm words this week from health minister Rosie Winterton, who said she is committed to fully funding the new pharmacy contract. "What we want to do is make sure there is the ability to carry out the services properly," Ms Winterton told...

Opinion.
May 1, 2004... Last week's question was: Do you think Chelsea FC will recover to make it into the Champions League final? "Yes, definitely. I think they may have given away the first match to get more people to watch the second" Mr Oza, Fulham,...

Letter: Time to look at the overpayment of rural doctors.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... The recent report from the Dispensing Doctors' Association raising concerns about the impact of registration of their staff with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society must surely be a warning call for the Government. Nearly 11 per cent of the...

Letter: How I will make my voting choices.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... I'm getting old. I seem to lack the ability to make decisions. In fact I am downright confused. What is happening to the Society? Today I received the official election documents for Council election. We are to choose seven worthy...

The price of quality.(pharmacies)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... For UCA past-president Sam Wilkinson the past few years can only have been harrowing. Conviction at the local magistrate's court followed by a drawn out Statutory Committee hearing must have been a huge emotional burden for him. I admire...

The acid test.(Zanprol)
May 1, 2004... Zanprol is a truly prized addition to my OTC armoury. This medicine allows me to counter-prescribe an effective product that backs up my good advice and will ensure customer loyalty. I am grateful to GlaxoSmithKline for giving me this...

Stumbling on.(pharmacists' contract)
May 1, 2004... Reports from the AAH Convention warn that the new contract implementation could be delayed still further. Given the nature of some of the stumbling blocks, an October launch now sounds like a pipedream. The Department of Health insists that...

A high price to pay.
May 1, 2004... A spectacular 53 per cent rise in salary costs for the Society's `senior personnel' last year (C&D, April 24, p5) warranted further investigation. The 13.4 per cent wage bill rise for other employees is partly explained by a 5 per cent increase...

OPENSHOP: Building influence - a key Society role.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)
May 1, 2004... Pharmacists across Great Britain have a highly effective and increasingly influential organisation in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, says president Gill Hawksworth All organisations seek to be influential. For the Society, it is...

IPMI Conference: Best time to be a pharmacist.(Institute of Pharmacy Management International)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The Institute of Pharmacy Management International celebrated its 40th anniversary with a conference in Bath last weekend. Adrienne de Mont reports "There's never been a better time to be a pharmacist," John D'Arcy, chief executive of the...

IPMI Conference: No contract threat to small pharmacies.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... It's absolutely untrue that the new contract will abandon small pharmacies, Steven Williams told the conference. PSNC's vice-chairman reassured independents that, contrary to some press reports, new contract negotiations aimed to reward...

IPMI Conference: Inquiry needed.(Information Processing in Medical Imaging)
May 1, 2004... Professor Ian Jones, Portsmouth University pharmacy practice unit, calculated that contractors were dispensing an average of 5,000 prescription items a month, or one every two minutes. He did not think enough attention had been paid to all the...

IPMI Conference: Why have pharmacists?(Information Processing in Medical Imaging)
May 1, 2004... Why have pharmacists at all? asked Professor Trevor Jones, director- general, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, in a talk entitled "Thinking the unthinkable." Advances in genomics and information technology might...

IPMI Conference: DoH meeting on independent prescribing.(Information Processing of Medical Imaging)(Department of Health)
May 1, 2004... Pharmacy organisations have suggested to the Department of Health how pharmacists might carry out independent prescribing. The RPSGB is now waiting for a meeting with the Department, so as to progress to the next stage, said president Gill...

PHARMACY UPDATE: Babycare at 3-6 months.
May 1, 2004... Weaning and immunisation are key issues at this stage, says Fawz Farhan, continuing her series on baby and child development Objectives * To know when weaning should start * To be able to advise on feeding problems * To be...

INCIDENCE OF CHILDHOOD ECZEMA TREBLES.(National Eczema Society)(University of Bristol)
May 1, 2004... A study from the National Eczema Society and the University of Bristol has found that one in three children have suffered from eczema by the time they are three and a half years old. This represents a significant increase since the 1970s, when...

Switching guidelines for Parkinson's.(Switch Guidelines Group)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Guidelines to help healthcare professionals switch medication for patients with Parkinson's disease have been published by a multidisciplinary group. Guidelines for dopamine agonist switching in Parkinson's disease will help healthcare...

Oestrogen helps bone density.
May 1, 2004... Raloxifene and conjugated equine oestrogen both affect bone density in post-menopausal women, but oestrogen's effects are "more marked", researchers have said. Bone density increased in women taking oestrogen by 4.6 per cent compared with...

Topical analgesics review.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Topical analgesics do have a place in the pain relief armament, but primarily in acute pain or in patients intolerant of other treatments, researchers have claimed. Studies of topical capsaicin in chronic pain from neuropathic and...

Striant SR.(Ardana Bioscience)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Ardana has launched Striant SR (testosterone 30mg) mucoadhesive buccal tablets licensed for treating men with primary or secondary hypogonadism. The usual dose for adult and elderly men is one tablet placed above an incisor tooth every 12...

Atrovent CFC-free.
May 1, 2004... Boehringer Ingelheim will launch Atrovent (ipratropium bromide 20mcg) CFC-free inhaler on May 4. Atrovent is licensed for regular treatment of reversible bronchospasm in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic asthma and each...

Rhinocort Aqua.
May 1, 2004... AstraZeneca has launched Rhincort Aqua (budesonide) 64mcg nasal spray to replace the 100mcg nasal spray, which has been discontinued from May 1. The dosing regimen is unchanged despite the change in dosage: patients with two applications...

GSK builds Andrews family.(GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare)
May 1, 2004... Andrews Salts is being relaunched with a new look to align the product more closely with Andrews Plus+. GSK says the move is designed to create a new product family and a stronger brand proposition. New Andrews Salts packs feature a...

Cool addition for Lamisil.(Novartis Consumer Health UK Ltd.)
May 1, 2004... Novartis Consumer Health is expanding its LamisilAT brand with the launch of an athlete's foot gel which is also indicated for Dhobie itch and ringworm. LamisilAT 1% Gel is a `P' white gel containing terbinafine 1 per cent. The fast...

Numark takes care of everyone under the sun.
May 1, 2004... Numark is launching a new own-brand range of suncare products into its pharmacies. As the range is designed specifically for pharmacies, it is presented as a healthcare rather than a cosmetic line. The range includes three suncare...

Dual action for mouth ulcers.(GR Lane Health Products soothing gel)
May 1, 2004... New from Lanes is a soothing protective gel for mouth ulcers offering dual action to relieve pain and promote rapid healing. Soothagel contains fatty acids glycerol oxy-triesters and is clinically proven to reduce pain and speed up the...

Germoloids targets the mum-to-be generation.
May 1, 2004... Pregnant women and new mums are among those being targeted by Bayer in a new #1 million press advertising campaign for Germoloids. A series of striking advertisements tailored for each audience will appear in women's magazines, pregnancy...

Nestle stages a big Build-Up.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Nestle is relaunching its Build-Up range with an improved recipe containing added fibre. New packaging is being introduced for the range which includes four instant drinks - Strawberry, Chocolate, Vanilla and Banana - plus four wholesome...

Weather deal gets hay fever sales buzzing.(GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare sponsors Sky News weather report)
May 1, 2004... GSK is gearing up for the hay fever season with a #300,000 sponsorship campaign to support its Beconase brand. For the next three months Beconase Hayfever and Beconase Hayfever Relief for Adults Nasal Spray will sponsor Sky News Weather....

Sun patches are child's play.(Sun Monitor Patch)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Personal Screening is the new UK distributor for a patch that warns wearers when they need to reapply sunscreen and when they have had enough sun for the day. The Sun Monitor Patch reacts to ultraviolet radiation in a similar way to skin....

Sensodyne back on TV.(GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare advertising campaign)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... May sees the start of a three-month advertising campaign and sampling initiative for Sensodyne. A TV commercial featuring a girl drinking water loaded with ice will be on air for the second time this year from May 4 for six weeks. In...

PHOTOGRAPHY: S.U.C. it and see.
May 1, 2004... The single-use camera is just one trend pharmacists can latch on to in the adapting photography sector. With the right tools, Sasa Jankovic finds the digital market is still ripe for expansion The photography sector is evolving, fuelled by...

PHOTOGRAPHY: Case study.(Pixology PLC. services )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Yuval Yashiv, chief executive of digital photographic software specialist Pixology, emphasises that it is crucial for retailers to be able to give customers a service that mirrors the ease of the traditional film developing process. ...

PHOTOGRAPHY: Duane Reade case study.(Duane Reade Holding Corp. )(Pixology PLC)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... In the summer of 2003, Pixology installed its digital printing software in 12 of Duane Reade's 200 New York City drugstores. Duane Reade began trialling the Preview and Select and Kiosk Solutions across these stores with a view to a full...

RPSGB COUNCIL ELECTIONS: The BIG debate.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)
May 1, 2004... Eight of the 15 candidates standing for election to the RPSGB's Council discussed key pharmacy issues at the annual YPG hustings last month. YPG secretary Emily Horwill reports The Young Pharmacists' Group hustings for this year's Council...

`Belly pork' and baccarat.(AAH Pharmaceuticals Ltd.)
May 1, 2004... Last week's AAH Convention in Monaco was not all work, as Patrick Grice reports The drive from Nice Airport to Monaco takes about 45 minutes by bus. Negotiating the climb up to the hills behind the city provides some breathtaking views. It...

Police target Liverpool pharmacy.(Brief Article)
May 8, 2004... Police have repeatedly targeted a Liverpool pharmacy following complaints from local shop owners of theft and drunkenness. Police officers have stopped and searched customers at Moss's London Road branch for the past eight weeks, often up...

NPA to accept all pharmacies.
May 8, 2004... The NPA has agreed to open its membership to all pharmacies including those owned by doctors and supermarkets. The NPA board voted by a substantial majority at its March meeting to accept as a member any pharmacy registered with the Royal...

Contractors welcome minister's funding pledge.(Brief Article)
May 8, 2004... Copyright: CMP Information Ltd. Pharmacy contractors have said they are encouraged by health minister Rosie Winterton's commitment to funding the new pharmacy contract, but warned that more detail is needed. Nucare chief executive...

Platinum Design Awards.
May 8, 2004... The results of the C&D Platinum Design Awards, sponsored by the Ceuta Healthcare Group of companies, were announced at a presentation ceremony in London last week. Turn to page 36 for more details of the event and the winners. ...

Statin users unknown.(Brief Article)
May 8, 2004... The Government has made no estimate of how many people are likely to be prescribed statins in 2010 despite rising levels of prescribing. Although NICE is working on an appraisal of statins and effective prescribing, health minister Melanie...

Extra jab for children needed.
May 8, 2004... Routine childhood pneumococcal immunisation would reduce prevalence of the disease in infants and young children, and may produce additional benefits for unvaccinated adults and the elderly through herd immunity. Although this could cost...

MHRA herbal recall.(Medicines and Healthcare Products regulatory Agency)(Brief Article)
May 8, 2004... The Medicines and Healthcare Products regulatory Agency has asked stockists of Shubao Slimming Capsules to remove stock from their shelves immediately. The MHRA has found liver toxins nitrosofenfluramine and fenfluramine in this product....

Sponsoring BMW Williams.(NiQuitin CQ )(Brief Article)
May 8, 2004... GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare's NiQuitin CQ brand is sponsoring the BMW Williams F1 Team for the second consecutive year. Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, former director-general of the World Health Organization, said: "Premier motor racing is...

Patients to report ADRs.(adverse drug reactions)(Yellow Card scheme)
May 8, 2004... Patients will be able to report unexpected effects of drugs, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency announced at the Yellow Card scheme's 40th anniversary on Tuesday. In addition, academics and researchers will gain wider...