Chemist & Druggist articles from November 2003

Chemist & Druggist archives from November 2003

Shopping centre pharmacies warning.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Nearly 400 shopping centres in England will be able to open limitless numbers of pharmacies, threatening community pharmacy, says a Liberal Democrat MP. According to Brian Cotter, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on small business, 389 large...

Second Charter `unacceptable'.
November 1, 2003... The Save Our Society group says the second draft Charter is "unacceptable" as it does not include the intention to promote the interests of members. Instead, the SOS group says that the revamped draft Charter, put out for consultation on...

BAPW says generics plans amount to `cherry picking'.(British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers )
November 1, 2003... The Government's generics consultation proposals are "the worst example of cherry picking" and it may become unviable for wholesalers to distribute generic products as a result, claims an industry association. The British Association of...

Pharmacists `leaving in droves'.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... North-East London Local Pharmaceutical Committee has warned the Government that community pharmacists are becoming demotivated, with owner managers leaving in droves. In its response to the Department of Health's Vision for Pharmacy, the...

New PSNI president.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Kate McClelland has been elected president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland. She has stepped up from vice-president to succeed Sheelagh Hillan. After graduating from Queen's University Belfast, Dr McClelland worked as a...

Apply now for BPC Practice medal.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is inviting applications for the 2004 British Pharmaceutical Conference Practice Research Medal, sponsored by C&D. The award recognises individuals aged up to 45 years who have contributed significantly to...

Script fraud down 12pc.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The estimated cost of prescription fraud in Northern Ireland has fallen by #1.2 million over the last three years. Government figures put the estimated cost of prescription fraud at #9.5 million for 2000-2001, #8.6m for 2001-2002 and #8.3m for...

NPA & PCPA draw up guidelines.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Two pharmacy associations have developed guidelines to help PCTs draft briefing papers for executive committees on how to plan strategy for community pharmacy in light of future developments. The National Pharmaceutical Association and the...

Diwali celebrated in style.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Diwali was celebrated in style last weekend by an estimated 60,000 people at the Shri Swaminarayan temple, Neasden, London. Pharmacists Nye Patel, Dilip Amin and Vipul Patel gave up their weekend to provide medical cover at the celebrations for...

Pharmacists cannot be oxygen link, says DoH.
November 1, 2003... Pharmacists should tender for domiciliary oxygen service contracts when they are drawn up, but cannot be the professional link between hospital and patient, the Department of Health has said. In June, the Government announced that changes...

Ask the president.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain's president Gill Hawksworth)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... RPSGB president Gill Hawksworth answers questions on the Society's modernisation process. Why is the Society seeking a new Charter? The current Charter is, in a number of respects, out of date. Also, the Government is preparing...

MS risk sharing scheme falls behind 10-year target.
November 1, 2003... The multiple sclerosis risk sharing scheme has not enrolled enough patients in time to generate useful information within its 10-year timespan, claims Schering Health Care. Patient enrolment is running well, but is short of its target and...

Boots voices remote supervision doubts.(Boots Pharmacists' Association)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Boots Pharmacists' Association shares similar doubts to other pharmacy organisations about the proposal for remote supervision of pharmacies (C&D, October 25, p14). While supporting the delegation of the accuracy check to qualified...

Pfizer reorganises global divisions.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Pfizer has reorganised its Global Research and Development, Global Pharmaceuticals and Global Manufacturing divisions under the new name of Pfizer Human Healthcare. Pfizer chairman and chief executive officer Dr Hank McKinnell, who will...

Agfa minilab goes digital.(Agfa-Gevaert Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Agfa has launched its first digital minilab suitable for community pharmacies. The compact, digital d-lab.1 is capable of print production from analogue or digital images, including CD services. The machine is based on the "walk-away...

Lloyds launches flexible benefits scheme.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Lloydspharmacy has launched a flexible employee benefits scheme called Benchmark, running initially until March 2004 for all pharmacists. A second phase will be rolled out in April 2004 for area managers. All employees will be...

Nucare amends incentives.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Nucare has responded to the Government's plans to publish details of pharmacy suppliers' inducement schemes (C&D, October 25, p9), saying its own has grown because of the support it receives from its 1,200 independent pharmacy members. ...

More medicines available online.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Rosemont Pharmaceuticals has launched a website for pharmacists with a Rosemont account to place orders online at www.rosemontpharma.com. A list of the specials which are supplied by Rosemount can also be obtained by logging onto the...

GSK results up but no news on pay row.(GlaxoSmithKline PLC)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... GlaxoSmithKline's third quarter results show pharmaceutical turnover grew 10 per cent to #4.6 billion in the quarter, driven by US turnover growth of 14 per cent. GSK successfully launched two key products into the US market in the period....

Self-diagnostics is on the rise.(Mintel International Group Ltd. report)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... A new report from Mintel claims an increasing number of people are opting for self-diagnosis and turning their backs on doctors. In 2002 almost #55 million was spent on self-diagnostic products such as blood pressure monitors, blood glucose...

IVAX First official launch.(IVAX Pharmaceuticals UK pricing program)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Today sees the official launch of IVAX Pharmaceuticals UK's IVAX First pricing programme that delivers a range of products, at competitive prices. IVAX products are now available at a net market price to all pharmacists and dispensing doctors...

Boots opens new prescription warehouse.(Boots The Chemists Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Boots has opened a prescription medicines warehouse at its Nottingham site, which the company says is already accurately completing 99.8 per cent of orders received. Warehouse D80 uses a combination of automated and hand picking to...

Two go as Boots restructures.(Andy Smith, Ann Francke, Boots The Chemists Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Boots has restructured its management team in a bid to "simplify and focus the leadership of the business". Andy Smith, director for HR, has resigned and leaves with immediate effect. Ann Francke, strategic marketing director, also leaves....

Letter: Council must regain control of Lambeth and decision-making.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... It is my assertion that today the Council of the RPSGB is no longer in control of the affairs of the Society - our Society. The problems started in 1998 when the Society adopted its `new ways of working'. This led to a situation where...

Letter: Offering the chance to talk on modernisation issues.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... I read with interest the announcement by Hassan Argomandkhah, on behalf of the SOS campaign, to seek a petition for a referendum on the revised Charter (C&D October 25, p4). In a further development Messrs Argomandkhah, Hickey, Koziol,...

Comment from the Editor.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Save Our Society)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The continued campaign against the RPSGB's method of modernising itself and the profession has picked up energy with the second draft of the proposed new Charter. One of the key concerns expressed by the Save Our Society group is that the...

YOUR VIEWS: Could do better: one year on with MS trial.(multiple sclerosis)
November 1, 2003... Will the risk share scheme for MS drugs meet its targets, asks Mark Gibson November will see the first assessment of the DoH's `risk sharing scheme' for the provision of disease modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis. More...

To absent friends.(Billy Gorman)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
November 1, 2003... It's good to remember times past and friends gone, so a recent C&D (September 20) was a poignant reminder of two good friends; one by his obituary and one by a photograph celebrating his Memorial Fund. Billy Gorman slipped away quietly...

No money, no vote and no vision.
November 1, 2003... Money seemed to dominate last week's pharmaceutical press. Superficially it was the various reported responses to the Government's latest `vision' for pharmacy but, ultimately, "pay and we will deliver" was the clear message regardless of the...

An audit trail for a No Regs CD.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Billy made a huge contribution to the profession I deal with a number of registered substance misuse clients and, for most of them, dispense methadone mixture on a daily basis. Recently my local substance misuse centre has started to...

The Advantage disadvantage.(Ivax Pharmaceuticals UK, Advantage membership)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... IVAX has finally seen the light and stopped its unnecessarily complex Advantage membership scheme. I have never been an advocate of this scheme and since its inception my purchases of IVAX products have substantially declined. Now that it has...

PHARMACY UPDATE: Bacterial skin infections.
November 1, 2003... In his third article on skin infections, Dr Mike Wyndham describes how to detect and treat those caused by bacteria The skin has several resident bacteria including Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, diphtheroids and...

Aquaform shrinks.(Unomedical Ltd., hydrogel wound dressing )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Unomedical is introducing an 8g size to the Aquaform hydrogel wound dressing range. The product has been launched in response to nurses' demands for a smaller size than the existing 15g. Although the product is not currently prescribable...

Solian special container.(Solian Oral Solution; National Prescription Research Centre, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... PSNC's National Prescription Research Centre has been advised that Solian Oral Solution (amisulpride 100mg/ml) will be classed as a special container for prescriptions dispensed from November 2003. For more information: National...

Plavix SPC changes.(supplementary protection certificates)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Sanofi-Synthelabo and Bristol-Myers Squibb have updated the SPC for Plavix (clopidogrel). Three E numbers have been added to the list of exicipients - mannitol (E421), hyprocellulose (E464) and triacetin (E1518). The following very...

Ostomy product.(Salts Healthcare)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Confidence Gold Soft and Secure is a new ostomy product from Salts Healthcare. The drainable pouch has an integrated hook and loop closure, claimed to lock securely even when wet. The product's flexible strips open the spout with a gentle...

Aspirin withdrawal linked to CHD events.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Patients with coronary artery disease who stop taking aspirin may be at risk of withdrawal-related coronary events, French researchers have said. A study of over 1,200 patients hospitalised for coronary syndromes found that over 4 per cent...

Sulfonamide reaction link.(allergic reactions)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Patients with a history of hypersensitivity to sulfonamide antibiotics have an increased risk of reaction to non-antibiotic sulfonamide drugs and penicillins, say USA researchers. The study found that nearly 10 per cent of patients with a...

Levodopa `wearing off' effect in Parkinson's.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Patients with Parkinson's disease taking levodopa may experience the drugs' effects `wearing off' earlier than their healthcare providers realise, say researchers in the USA. In a study of over 300 patients with Parkinson's disease,...

Orion Pharma marketing authorisation.(Stalevo)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Orion Pharma has received EU-wide marketing authorisation for Stalevo (levodopa, carbidopa and entacapone) for treating Parkinson's disease from the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medical Products. It is indicated for patients who are...

SSRIs lower suicides.(Arch Gen Psychiatry)(antidepressant medication)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Older male adolescents are less likely to attempt suicide when treated with SSRIs, say researchers in the USA. This is probably because older patients are more likely to have a diagnosable condition and could benefit more from...

Potter's makes TV debut.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Potter's has launched its first TV campaign with advertisements for its four best-selling products. Elixir of Echinacea and Vegetable Cough Remover are the first products to be promoted in a series of animated adverts running on GMTV from...

Vapour Drops add to Covonia range.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Thornton & Ross is extending the Covonia range with the introduction of Covonia Vapour Drops. The drops contain menthol 17.5 per cent w/v and peppermint oil 0.2 per cent v/v and have been designed to be sprinkled onto a handkerchief to...

Makeover for Alldays.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Procter & Gamble is updating its Alldays pantyliner brand with the introduction of four new variants and new look packaging across the whole range. The new variants are Ultra Light (extremely thin), Ultra Light Fresh (extremely thin and...

Elite pouch for Topman.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... SSL International is launching a safer sex initiative by making Durex Elite condoms available in branches of Topman from November 10. Three Elite condoms will retail in a matt black `Pocket Pouch' specially designed to fit in a back pocket,...

Aquafresh takes a shower.(Aquafresh Extreme Clean)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The four-week advertising campaign for Aquafresh Extreme Clean launches on national television on November 1. Called `Showerbox', the advert shows a woman cleaning her teeth in the shower, to suggest that the product feels like a shower for...

Fisherman's Friend bites back.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Jenks is promoting the Fisherman's Friends range of throat lozenges, including the newly launched Cherry Menthol flavour, with a #1 million advertising campaign. The new cherry flavour contains no added sugar and is available in two pack...

Glutano extends range.(Gluten Free Foods)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Gluten Free Foods has added Luxury Ginger Cookies to its Glutano range. The chocolate covered ginger biscuits are gluten, wheat, egg and soya free and are not NHS prescribable. Price: RSP #2.49 Pack size: 150g Pip code:...

Webstar Health Conference: Doing dispensing differently.
November 1, 2003... This was the title of a Webstar Health conference which debated the impact of automation and skill mix on pharmacy's future. Gary Paragpuri was there Much of the Government's pharmacy agenda will have a huge impact on the way that...

Webstar Health Conference: Third party errors still a problem.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... If pharmacists delegate dispensing to technicians or outsource dispensing to a third party the pharmacist remains responsible for any dispensing errors. Pharmacists cannot contract out of liability, said David Reissner from Charles Russell...

Webstar Health Conference: Robot has spare capacity at night.(Chelsea and Westminster Hospital)
November 1, 2003... A #500,000 dispensing robot at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has halved stockholding, reduced pharmacists' workload in the dispensary, cut patients' discharge times and reduced the incidence of patients missing medication doses. ...

Webstar Health Conference: Robot is `a viable option'.(Grays Pharmacy)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Grays Pharmacy in Berwick-upon-Tweed is the second community pharmacy in the UK to install a dispensing robot. Relocation into a small and awkwardly shaped dispensary in a health centre forced proprietor Andrew Gray to consider new ways of...

Webstar Health Conference: Technicians accredited by PCTs?(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The shortage of pharmacists could result in technicians becoming accredited by PCTs for the provision of services. Although this would depend on the type of service, it could include areas such as patient domiciliary visits and the supply...

DIAGNOSTICS: Designs on the future.
November 1, 2003... Pharmacogenomics will dramatically change the way pharmacists work and 10 years from now pharmacy may be a very different animal, reports Gary Paragpuri In the movie Groundhog Day, the central character is trapped in the same day. No...

DIAGNOSTICS: Making the future.
November 1, 2003... Manufacturers and wholesalers will be key in supporting community pharmacists utilise genetic developments and they will be keen to play a part in the future. Four leading players give us their views AAH Pharmaceuticals marketing director...

INSIGHT: With a single stroke.(Jeannette Smith returns to work after stroke)
November 1, 2003... Jeannette Smith suffered a stroke in April. Happily well on the way to recovery, she is now working again as a pharmacist near her home in Argyll. Here she relates her experiences on the receiving end of care... You go to work on your 70th...

First DataBank Europe - Appointment.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... First DataBank Europe has appointed pharmacist Hillary Judd as its head of knowledge base services, which maintains the Multilex Drug Data File. Ms Judd has joined from the British Pharmacopoeia Secretariat at the Medicines Division of the...

Aventis - Appointment.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Aventis has announced the appointment of Julien Verley as senior vice- president of corporate finance and treasury. Prior to this Mr Verley was general manager of the agricultural-biotech division at Aventis. Copyright: CMP Information...

Paul Murray - Appointment.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The 40th birthday of Paul Murray Plc has coincided with the appointment of Charlotte Murray, the third generation to work for the company. Ms Murray will be working in the public relations department, and has responsibility for the make-up...

Mawdsleys - Appointments.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Mawdsleys has appointed four new business development managers (BDMs). Ramji Chauhan has moved from Pharmaceuticals Direct to become BDM for North London; Malcolm Hardy is BDM for South Yorkshire and has joined from Laboratoire Garnier; Peter...

Will this be the Welsh Woman of the Year?(Kerren Winmill )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... This pharmacist will find out later this month if she has been awarded the title of the Western Mail newspaper's `Welsh Woman of the Year'. Kerren Winmill of Tredegar, Gwent, right, has been shortlisted for the `Woman in Science and...

Nucare Annual Golf Competition.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Gam Singh Amar of Allesley Pharmacy, Coventry, is pictured receiving the winner's trophy from Alpharma's Roger Bell at this year's Nucare Annual Golf Competition. Sinking the final hole with 42 points, Mr Amar beat defending 2002 champion Neil...

Anyone for Champers?(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Susan Hateley has been named the winner of C&D's Cambridge Counterpart course for August. She has worked at the Pelsall branch of West Midlands Co-op Pharmacy chain for two years. Both Susan and her supervising pharmacist Elizabeth Hammond were...

Crack squad.(Alpharma inter-company games championship )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... This was the crack squad sent to Norway to represent the UK at the Alpharma inter-company games championship as part of the company's centenary celebrations. The group's lack of experience at handball and volleyball did nothing to dent their...

NPA starts campaign to get `balance' right.
November 8, 2003... The NPA is urging pharmacists to alert politicians, PCTs and local authorities to the potential pitfalls in the Government's `balanced package of measures' for pharmacy service provision. NPA members are being mailed this week with a pack...

Charter consultation process `flawed'.
November 8, 2003... The Royal Pharmaceutical Society's consultation process for its new Charter does not meet Government standards, claim pharmacists opposed to the Society's modernisation agenda. The RPSGB's five-week consultation period on the Charter falls...

Second key figure resigns from Scottish Executive.(Findlay Hickey resigns from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Scottish Executive )(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... Findlay Hickey has resigned as the deputy secretary of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Scottish Executive less than three weeks after Dr Sheila Stevens quit as secretary (C&D, October 11, p4). An RPSGB spokesman confirmed Mr Hickey...

DoH backs out-of-hours with #28m.(Department of Health)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... Health minister John Hutton has announced an extra #28 million to help local areas develop high quality out-of-hours services. The money will be made available over the next two years to help local areas deliver services from December 2004...

Colon Cancer Concern campaign.(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... Colon Cancer Concern took its "Don't blush... look before you flush" campaign to Roche's Welwyn Garden City headquarters this week. CCC and Roche staff joined colorectal nurse specialists to offer health and lifestyle advice to the trailer's...

Government rejects advice to overhaul script tax.(tax on prescription drugs)
November 8, 2003... Chancellor Gordon Brown has shelved a recommendation by his NHS adviser Derek Wanless to reform prescription charges. The Treasury confirmed that there are no plans to change prescription charges in spite of the anomalies highlighted by Mr...

MP says no need to fear `free for all'.(pharmacy control of entry regulations)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... The Government will not completely abolish pharmacy control of entry regulations, according to the chairman of the All-Party Pharmacy Group. "I think pharmacists have not got as much to fear as they thought when the OFT report came out,"...

Ask the president.(Gill Hawksworth answers questions about the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Interview)
November 8, 2003... RPSGB president Gill Hawksworth answers questions on the Society's modernisation process. Why the rush to consult on the revised draft Charter? The Council recognises that this second consultation on the new Charter is brief, but we...

Users back free EHC scheme.(emergency hormonal contraception )(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... A free emergency hormonal contraception scheme has been well received by women, according to a Nottingham University evaluation. Customers praised the scheme, saying pharmacists provided more information than clinics or their GP, and that...

RPSGB says no to switch of Nurofen.(Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has objected to the proposed reclassification of Nurofen Cold and Flu from P to GSL. The Society has told the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency that pseudoephedrine should remain available...

First technicians to complete course.(Esme Conner and Eleanor Simone complete Accuracy in Dispensing course)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... Esme Conner, of Roberts Chemist in Wareham, Dorset, and Eleanor Simone, of Traherne Pharmacy in Hove, East Sussex, are the first technicians to complete the NPA's new Accuracy in Dispensing course, which includes written assessments, checking...

Call for tobacco regulator.(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... PharmacyHealthLink, along with 10 other charities and health organisations, has written to the Health Secretary calling for the immediate launch of a tobacco regulatory authority. The organisations argued that the lack of an adequate...

`Whistleblowing' examined.(Shipman Inquiry to examine whistleblowing and disciplinary procedures )(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... The Shipman Inquiry will examine whistleblowing and disciplinary procedures for NHS healthcare professionals in its fourth stage in January. Topics to be considered include procedures for healthcare professionals to voice their concerns...

AAH finance arm offers pharmacists a LIFT.(local improvement finance trust )(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... A Government scheme to increase the number of purpose-built `one-stop' health centres "will spur more pharmacy bids for help", AAH Pharmaceuticals has predicted. The Government's aim for the local improvement finance trust (LIFT)...

Alliance offers eczema advice.(Pharmacy Alliance)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... Pharmacy Alliance, UniChem's provider of healthcare solutions, is piloting an atopic eczema management service in 45 community pharmacies. Pharmacists will recruit patients presenting prescriptions for atopic eczema medication and ask each...

Figure could double.(AAH Pharmaceuticals' Vantage Health Watch scheme )(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... One hundred community pharmacies have joined AAH Pharmaceuticals' Vantage Health Watch scheme and the company predicts the figure could double by the end of the year. AAH marketing director Mandeep Mudhar said: "The uptake of services such as...

IVAX restructures for further growth.(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... IVAX is restructuring in the UK following its pan-European agreement to acquire 3M's hydrofluoroalkane, becolometasone and salbutamol branded asthma products in nine European countries, and the replacement of its Advantage membership scheme...

#34 million Parklands building.(AstraZeneca opens new building)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... AstraZeneca has opened its #34 million Parklands building in Alderley Park, Cheshire, for the 750 office staff supporting AstraZeneca's global pharmaceuticals business. The ceremony was performed by John Patterson, executive vice-president...

UniChem wins Boots deal.(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... UniChem has firmed up its arrangement to supply Boots with prescription medicines it does not stock centrally, with a three-year trading agreement including emergency back-up for centrally stocked lines. A Boots spokesman said: "Boots has...

New gift guide from Swains.(Brief Article)
November 8, 2003... Swains has published its fifth annual Autumn/Winter gift guide. The 52- page consumer catalogue contains over 200 of the latest and best selling products including cameras, equipment and accessories, plus a selection of frames and photo albums....