Chemist & Druggist articles from October 2004

Chemist & Druggist archives from October 2004

Minister reveals PCT benchmarks.(Rosie Winterton, primary care trusts)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... PCTs will be given model service specifications and benchmark prices to help them determine which third-tier services to commission and how much to pay for them, minister for health Rosie Winterton has revealed. Speaking exclusively to...

Range of financial models.(Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee )(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... PSNC has considered a range of financial models on how to distribute funds to look after the different sizes of pharmacy. Proposals on distribution will be put to the Department of Health this week, and it is still looking to implement the new...

Reid cites pharmacy in choice debate.(John Reid)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Health secretary John Reid has cited community pharmacy as an example of how the public are being given choice in the NHS. Mr Reid was challenged at the Labour Party Conference this week over Labour's aim to provide the public with more...

Roadshows.(Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee )(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... PSNC has agreed a programme of activities to accompany the introduction of the new contract including a series of roadshows to outline the funding model, starting later this month. There will also be workshops on media skills and seminars on...

Profession `must adapt to meet new challenges'.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... If the pharmacy profession is to make the most of scientific and technological advances, it will require new policies and practices, RPSGB president Nicholas Wood has said. Only the right public policy underpinned by the right...

Update MCQ enclosed.
October 2, 2004... This week's issue contains the questionnaire for the following Pharmacy Update modules carried in September: * Endometriosis (1314) * Incontinence (1315) * CDs (1316). Pharmacy Update is a distance learning programme...

Recruiting online.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... As part of its latest recruitment drive, the DoH is launching two websites. Experience Matters, which is designed to appeal to older people, goes live on October 8, while Bright Futures, which targets school leavers and graduates, went live on...

Aspirin update.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... The Aspirin Foundation has re-launched its website. www.aspirin- foundation.com aims to appeal to consumers and healthcare professionals and is also able to provide registrants with newsletter updates. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

More drugs money.(finance for Drug Action Teams)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... The DoH has made #219 million extra available to its Drug Action Teams. This is to be used to increase the number of specialist drugs workers and the number of residential rehabilitation and in-patient detox centres, and to improve the...

Wyeth and Roche share top award.(Roche Holding Ltd., Galien Medal)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Wyeth and Roche share this year's UK Prix Galien top award for drug innovation and health benefit. At an award ceremony held at the Houses of Parliament last week, a Galien Medal was awarded for Prevenar, Wyeth's pneumococcal vaccine for...

NPA extends membership to individual pharmacists.(National Pharmaceutical Association)
October 2, 2004... The National Pharmaceutical Association is to open membership to all pharmacists. From January 2005, individual pharmacists will be able to join NPA Link, which will provide most of the benefits of NPA membership except for representation on...

Executive changes.(Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Pharmacy remuneration guru Godfrey Horridge has retired as financial executive after 13 years at PSNC. He is, however, hoping to continue to work part-time at PSNC, concentrating on Welsh and oxygen matters. He is succeeded by Mike...

Scotland sets out three-year smoking plan.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... NHS Health Scotland and ASH Scotland have updated their Smoking Cessation Guidelines for Scotland. The 2004 guidelines, which aim to carry Scottish smoking cessation services over the next three years, comprise 10 key messages. These...

WCPPE avoids risk with CDROM.(Welsh Centre for Post Graduate Pharmaceutical Education)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... The Welsh Centre for Post Graduate Pharmaceutical Education (WCPPE) has launched an interactive learning programme on risk. The programme aims to introduce the basics of risk management in pharmacy and includes sections on identifying,...

ABPI launches pharmacy award to recognise pharmacy innovation.(Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has launched a new award to recognise innovative pharmacy practice that brings benefits to patients. The ABPI Pharmacy Award will be given to up to six pharmacists who show: *...

White is new SPGC chief.(Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council, Paul White )(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... The Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council has appointed Paul White as its first chief executive officer. Paul is a graduate of Queen's University, Belfast, the Henley Business School and latterly of the University of Edinburgh. He is also...

UniChem offers energy deal.(UniChem Ltd.'s UniChem Business E Scheme)
October 2, 2004... UniChem is inviting its pharmacy customers to take advantage of reduced energy costs it has negotiated with Scottish and Southern Energy across the UK. Low-cost electricity and gas will be available both in-store and at home by joining the...

Pfizer quota system is risking patient safety.(supply chain)
October 2, 2004... AAH Pharmaceuticals is claiming that Pfizer UK's new quota system is already putting patients' lives at risk. According to Steve Dunn, AAH group managing director, Pfizer has just refused to supply two of AAH's largest depots, Nexus Point...

Bulk price on small orders.(Bydis)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... A new South East pharmaceutical wholesaler is offering low prices on small orders. East Sussex-based Bydis, established by former pharmacist Anthony Asindi, intends supplying POM, P, GSL branded and generic products, as well as comprehensive...

Helping disabled customers.(Disability Rights Commission)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Disability Discrimination Act 1995 provisions concerning access came into force on 1 October. And, warns the Disability Rights Commission, it will in future encourage disabled persons to take service providers to court if they feel that they...

West Midlands Co-ops celebrate.(community pharmacies)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... West Midlands Co-ops' 33 community pharmacies are celebrating dispensing two million prescriptions in under a year for the first time. The Co-op pharmacy in Gornal Wood, Dudley dispensed a bottle of Champagne and bouquet of flowers to the...

Almus wins design award.(Almus Pharmaceuticals, Design Effectiveness Awards )(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Almus Pharmaceuticals has won Best Brand Identity at the Design Effectiveness Awards for the packaging of its 120-product range of generic medicines. The packaging, which uses colour to distinguish product and strength, was designed to...

Oxygen start date slips.
October 2, 2004... The Department of Health is advising that the start date for the new integrated domiciliary oxygen arrangements could still be one year away. Both PSNC and potential new contract suppliers confirm that they are also currently working...

SSL focuses.(SSL International PLC)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... SSL International, which owns the Durex and Scholl brands, has sold its US Silipos business to Langer Inc for $15.5million. Silipos gel-based products for prosthetic, orthopaedic and skin care applications, are better known in the USA,...

Warner Chilcott approach.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Northern Ireland-based Warner Chilcott has received a preliminary approach from a consortium of US private equity houses. An indicative cash offer of 800p per share is being made for the entire issued share capital of the company. At the time...

Comment from the Editor.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... This week's BPC opened in Manchester with a buzz that had been missing in recent years. A bigger exhibition in a modern conference centre formed the backdrop to an excellent showcase of all that's good about pharmacy. Prominent in most...

Opinion.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Our question to pharmacists this week was: The VMD has proposed that pharmacists should be allowed to prescribe some veterinary POMs. What impact could this have? Seamus Strain, Camlough, Northern Ireland "It will encourage more...

Your views: Give pharmacy more bite.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Dr Steven Kayne of the Veterinary Pharmacists Group comments on the Veterinary Products Directorate's proposals published last week With this review, the Government has an opportunity to enhance animal welfare, improve convenience and the...

Northern Ireland notebook: Instalment dispensing crackdown.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... I had almost assigned the CSA letter to the bin when its message seemed to jump right out at me. Reading the missive in detail, my initial shock was calmed and I had to admit that I was not surprised. There must be a challenge to this practice....

Uncertain future for personal control.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Next month's consultation on personal control and the workforce (see C&D, Sep 25, p15) signals a move towards one of the biggest changes to pharmacy practice for years. Everybody knows that we won't be able to carry out new roles effectively...

What's in a name?(Fybogel)(My Pharmacy United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... I'm sure Reckitt Benckiser has good reasons to re-brand Fybogel as Senokot Hi-Fibre that have been well thought out and make sound business sense. And I should welcome the #1 million marketing spend to raise awareness of the new brand name. But...

From beef to teeth.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Some new roles are more welcome than others and I'm glad that I will be able to pick and choose some of those that I take on. A pharmacist prescribable category of veterinary medicines is a step forward for professional practice and a boon for...

Letter: Dispensing monitored dosage eight times for one fee.(Letter to the Editor)
October 2, 2004... Every pharmacist knows how the trend nowadays is towards pharmacists taking an active role in the health of the patient. No other patient category deserves more attention than the elderly and confused. So you can imagine my consternation...

Letter: Naive Xrayser.(Letter to the Editor)
October 2, 2004... Xrayser is being very naive when he said the ultimate aim of the pharmaceutical industry is to help the sick (C&D, September 25, p17). This is their PR image. The ultimate aim of any company is to make a profit for its shareholders and...

Moss Pharmacy employee.(Kirstie Hepburn shortlisted for QUIT smoking Cessation Supporter Award)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... A Moss pharmacy employee who pioneered smoking cessation in a young offenders institution has been shortlisted for the QUIT smoking Cessation Supporter Award sponsored by Nicotinell. Kirstie Hepburn is area development manager for Moss and...

New herbal committee holds first meeting.(Committee for Herbal Medicine Products)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... The newly formed Committee for Herbal Medicine Products held its inaugural meeting in London last week with representatives from all the member states present. The committee has been set up in advance of the new directive concerning...

First arrivals at Medway.(Medway School of Pharmacy)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... The first undergraduate students registered at the new Medway School of Pharmacy this week. The School is a joint venture between the Universities of Greenwich and Kent. Study will be divided between three campuses: the main University...

INSIGHT: Gaining inspiration.
October 2, 2004... A recent news article suggested the benefits of using biofeedback methods to help control asthma. Mark Greener explains The recent report that biofeedback improves respiratory function in people with asthma and could be steroid sparing1...

DHSSPS Conference: We must extend prescribing rights.(epartment of Health, Social Services and Public Safety)
October 2, 2004... This was the message from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety one-day conference: Prescribing - A Multidisciplinary Approach in Belfast. It was attended by 260 delegates including 60 pharmacists Extension of...

PHARMACY UPDATE: Just a CYP.(cytochromes P450)
October 2, 2004... In the first of three articles, Professor Danny Burke explains what cytochromes P450 are and what they do Medicines datasheets often warn about drug interactions and adverse effects that involve "CYP". For example: "Loratadine is...

Delfen.
October 2, 2004... Janssen-Cilag has announced it is discontinuing Delfen Contraceptive Foam (12.5 per cent w/w nonoxinol-9) from November 1, 2004, across the European Union. It advises alternative spermicidal contraceptives are available from Janssen-Cilag...

Co-Diovan 80mg/12.5mg.
October 2, 2004... Novartis has launched a lower dose version of Co-Diovan tablets (valsartan 80mg, hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg) to add to the exisiting Co- Diovan products. It is available in a 28 tablet pack from October 1. For more information: See...

Lisicostad HCT.
October 2, 2004... Genus Pharmaceuticals has launched Lisicostad HCT (lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide) tablets. Lisicostad HCT is available as 28-tablet packs in two dosages: 10mg or 20mg lisinopril both with 12.5mg hydrochlorothiazide. For more...

Farlutal.
October 2, 2004... Pfizer has announced it has discontinued Farlutal Tabs (medroxyprogesterone acetate) for commercial reasons. Farlutal injection is still available. For more information: Pfizer Customer Service Tel: 01304 645262 Copyright: CMP...

Newer antiepilepsy drugs as good as old.
October 2, 2004... Lamotrigine and oxcarbazepine as monotherapy are as effective as older antiepileptic drugs for controlling partial seizures while being better tolerated, say US researchers. This is important because the majority of patients who are seizure...

Sports doping list updated.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... All beta-2 agonists will be prohibited for use in and out of competition from January 1, 2005, the World Anti-Doping Agency announced last week. In addition, alpha-reductase inhibitors finasteride and dutasteride, which are used in benign...

Patients on antidepressants at dental risk.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Patients taking antidepressants are at risk from dental side effects such as caries and gum disease, say US researchers. Medication and the depression itself can lead to dental problems, says dentist and lead author James Little in Dental...

Seven Seas goes into action with JointCare.
October 2, 2004... Seven Seas Healthcare is supporting its Seven Seas JointCare range with a winter press campaign until December. The advertising will focus on JointCare ProJoint and the recently launched JointCare Max. It will appear in national...

Lemsip Flu 12hr visits every town.
October 2, 2004... Lemsip Flu 12hr Ibuprofen + Pseudoephedrine will be in the public eye nationwide later this month backed by a #2.5 million outdoor campaign. A range of posters for the pharmacy-only capsules (ibuprofen 300mg and pseudoephedrine...

Natural approach to nits.
October 2, 2004... A natural Australian range designed to help control head lice is being introduced into the UK. Quit Nits will be sold exclusively through Boots for the next 12 months. Quit Nits Head Lice Remover and Hair Conditioning Head Lice Repellent...

Campaign builds up sales for Askit Powders.
October 2, 2004... Askit Powders will be backed by a regional TV and radio campaign in Scotland this autumn. The brand's cartoon `builder' TV commercial will be on air from October 11 until November 21. It features drawings of a builder demonstrating the...

Fisherman's Friend on the road.
October 2, 2004... Fisherman's Friend is all set for winter with a #1 million marketing campaign from October to March 2005. National newspaper and specialist press advertising promises consumers `Relief from extreme conditions.' In addition, the brand...

Sure Crystal on a mission.
October 2, 2004... What do screen icons Elvis Presley, Steve McQueen and James Dean all have in common? All three feature in Lever Faberge's new #2.2 million advertising campaign for Sure Crystal for men. Three different advertisements show white...

Ear cleanser is back on TV.
October 2, 2004... Passion for Life Healthcare is launching a three-week #800,000 TV advertising campaign for its Audiclean ear cleanser. The campaign highlights the dangers of using cotton buds for cleaning the ears. For more information: Passion...

Cuddle up to Kool bear this winter.
October 2, 2004... Kool'n'Soothe cooling gel sheets for children's colds and flu are being supported by a #1 million marketing programme this winter. In a `Stock up for winter deal' from October until December, pharmacies can obtain special point-of-sale and...

Focus on hectic life.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Seven Seas is investing #3.5 million in an autumn TV campaign for its Advanced Formula Multibionta probiotic multivitamin. The commercial will be on air from October 6 until the end of November with a particular focus on London and the...

Skill up or lose out.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... If you are not skilled up or accredited to provide advanced services you are in danger of losing out, both professionally and financially, Reckitt Benckiser has warned pharmacists ahead of its new programme of pharmacy contract workshops. ...

Certificates to recognise 21 pilot sites work.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Carwen Wynne Howells, chief pharmaceutical advisor to the Welsh Assembly, presented certificates to recognise 21 pilot sites' work on the NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Project. Pictured with Ms Wynne Howells (holding the certificate) are some of the...

It's hard to get children to eat healthily, survey finds.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Nearly half of parents with children under 15 find it hard to know which foods are healthy, research by Developing Patient Partnerships has revealed. Even for those parents who make healthy choices for their children, 65 per cent say they...

Practice research award is up for grabs.(Public Notice)
October 2, 2004... The Health Foundation is now inviting applications for its Leading Practice Through Research award. This is open to health professionals, including health involvement practitioners, health service managers, policy makers and primary care...

AAMW materials available.(Ask About Medicines Week )(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Ask About Medicines Week material for this year's event (November 1-6) is now available on the website. This year's theme is Choice: enabling patients to be more involved in treatment decisions. An action pack for community pharmacists...

PHARMACY MANAGEMENT: brand aid.
October 2, 2004... Getting employees to buy into the company's `brand' can benefit business, says Steve Hemsley If you asked your employees what makes your pharmacy special and how it differs from its competitors, many of them would probably just stare at...

Case study: Numark.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Numark organised a country-wide roadshow to explain to its pharmacy members the importance of branding. Chief executive David Wood was aware staff working within the branches needed to be clear about Numark's brand positioning in the...

Case study: UniChem.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... The recent appointment of UniChem's new director of human resources, Amanda Butler, is a demonstration of how seriously the company takes the issue of employee branding. The stated brand values against which all UniChem's business...

Report BPC: Chief summit.(Bulk Pharmaceuticals Chemicals)
October 2, 2004... Clinical governance has been described as "by far the most high profile vehicle for achieving change in the NHS", Jim Smith, England's chief pharmacist told delegates. Pharmacists across all sectors of the profession have demonstrated high...

Report BPC: LPS funding review to follow contract.(local pharmaceutical services)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Funding for local pharmaceutical services will be looked at once the new pharmacy contract negotiations have been finalised, Jeannette Howe informed BPC delegates. The Department of Health's head of pharmacy and prescriptions was...

BPC: Cost of drug development is unsustainable, warns NICE chief.(National Institute for Clinical Excellence, Michael Rawlins )(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... The current cost of bringing new drug molecules to the market is not sustainable, National Institute for Clinical Excellence chairman Professor Sir Michael Rawlins told BPC delegates. In his keynote address, Professor Rawlins explained that...

Report BPC: A checklist for living with the new contract.
October 2, 2004... Outlining the principles behind England's national pharmacy contract, Steve Williams, chairman of PSNC's contract and planning committee, said it was designed to fully fund the essential and advanced NHS pharmacy services. Speaking at a...

BPC: Understanding research to improve paediatric medicine use.(Bulk Pharmaceuticals Chemicals)
October 2, 2004... Dr Ian Wong is this year's winner of the Conference Practice Research Medal. He lectured on his area of research, paediatric pharmacy, on Tuesday Medicines use in children will only improve if effective health policy and research...

Report BPC: Patient behaviour link to adherence to regimes.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Pharmacists must understand why patients do not take their medicines before attempting to improve adherence to medication regimes, a professor of healthcare told BPC delegates. Patient behaviour is the link between effective drug treatments...

Report BPC: Build trust with GP for the future.(Bulk Pharmacueticals Chemicals)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Repeat dispensing will have a natural link with medicines use reviews under the new pharmacy contract, delegates were told. But GPs and pharmacists will need to have a robust system in place that allows for changes to be made in between...

Report BPC: Scheme met resistance.(Bulk Pharmaceuticals Chemical)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Minor ailments schemes may not be appropriate for all PCTs and there may be better ways to spend the money. Areas with ethnically diverse populations may encounter resistance to using such schemes, a study into an East Birmingham PCT...

Report BPC: Repeat business.(Bulk Pharmaceutical Chemical)
October 2, 2004... As pharmacists prepare to take on responsibility for repeat dispensing, a BPC seminar looked at the lessons learnt from two existing pilots A year after it began, nearly 18,000 items have been dispensed via Coventry PCT's repeat dispensing...

Report BPC: PILs confusing for patients.(over the counter drugs)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Patients overestimate their risk of side effects from medicines because they do not understand the numerical information on medicine pack inserts. This may influence the patient's decision to take the medicine, so other ways of presenting...

Report BPC: Pharmacists and GPs treat OTC steroids differently.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Doctors and pharmacists have significantly different attitudes towards OTC steroid creams, delegates were told. A study looking at health professionals' attitudes to hydrocortisone and clobetasone butyrate creams showed many GPs were...

Report BPC: Be sure of funds at the start.(Bulk Pharmaceutical Chemical)
October 2, 2004... Make sure, before you train as a supplementary prescriber, that someone will pay for your services once you have qualified. This was a key message to emerge from a session in which three community pharmacists related their experiences of...

BUSINESS SURVEY: Investment locked up.
October 2, 2004... Pharmacists were asked their views on the contract, the RPSGB and POM to P switching in the latest C&D Business Trends Survey Delays in the implementation of the new pharmacy contract are discouraging pharmacists from investing in their...

BUSINESS SURVEY: The UniChem view.(Mike Smith's opinion)
October 2, 2004... UniChem chairman Mike Smith comments on the survey findings The results of the latest Business Trends Survey show that the uncertainty and concern felt by many pharmacists over the last few months is continuing, with just 30 per cent of...

Ceuta Healthcare - Appointment.(John Watmough )(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Ceuta Healthcare has announced the appointment of John Watmough as national accounts and commercial development director. Mr Watmough has joined from Wyeth Consumer Healthcare where he held several management positions in sales and trade...

Numark - Appointment.(Sue White)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Sue White has been named Numark's business development manager for South Wales, Devon and Cornwall. Ms White was previously at Ventic Health, most recently as a regional business manager. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Systems Solutions - Appointment.(John Bolger )(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... IT solutions provider Systems Solutions has appointed John Bolger as its financial controller. Mr Bolger has over 20 years of financial management experience, and will be responsible for managing all financial reporting and planning for the...

Biotica Technology - Appointment.(Mark Bodmer )(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... Mark Bodmer has been named chief executive of the private UK biotechnology company Biotica Technology Ltd. Dr Bodmer has joined from the biotech company Lorantis where he was chief executive officer. He has also held senior positions at Incyte...

Safer analgesics from mutant Norman?(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... As the source of both valuable painkillers and illicit drugs, poppies have been a pharmaceutical double-edged sword for many years. But this could be set to change with research into a mutant form of the flower. Australian researchers have...

Endurance cycle ride.(United Co-op Healthcare)(Guide Dogs for the Blind)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2004... United Co-op Healthcare's general manager John Nuttall has raised #1,700 for charity by completing an endurance cycle ride. To raise the money for Guide Dogs for the Blind, Mr Nuttall rode 200km over some of the toughest parts of the Tour de...