News summary
Sudden withdrawal of cerivastatin
by Bayer Cerivastatin (Lipobay) is to be withdrawn with immediate
effect because of concerns over safety...[more]
Dosages for inhaled corticosteroids should be
modified British Thoracic Society asthma guidelines on the
recommended doses for inhaled corticosteroids should be modified, say
researchers from New Zealand...[more]
Tesco pharmacies expand range of complementary
medicines Tesco is to sell an expanded range of complementary
medicines and herbal products through its 210 instore pharmacies. It will
also be providing an enhanced range of products by mail order and internet
shopping...[more]
Vaccines for meningococcus B and rotavirus expected
within five years Within the next five years, meningococcal
B and rotavirus vaccines can be expected...[more]
Travellers to exotic places risk illness by not
having vaccinations Travellers are endangering their health
by visiting exotic locations without having the necessary vaccines, a
survey suggests...[more]
New pharmacy research institute to open at Nottingham
Nottingham university is to establish a new research institute
to focus effort on the discovery of new molecules with therapeutic potential...[more]
GMC to rule on the ethics of treatment choice
over MMR vaccination The General Medical Council is to consider
whether it is professional misconduct for a doctor to offer separate measles,
mumps and rubella vaccination with unlicensed single vaccines to the children
of parents who do not trust the safety of the MMR triple vaccine...[more]
Mumps cases are on the increase The
number of laboratory-confirmed cases of mumps has increased for the third
year running, the Public Health Laboratory Service has announced...[more]
Health managers’ scant regard for pharmacy
services Senior health service managers in London have been
found to be dismissive of community pharmacy as it currently operates...[more]
Independents unite for health centre pharmacy
Three independent community pharmacists, based on the Wirral,
Merseyside, have united to move into a pharmacy at a new health centre.
This has allowed them to expand their professional roles...[more]
Refinancing of PCG Holdings approved Shareholders
in Primary Care Group Holdings Plc, a company founded by Royal Pharmaceutical
Society Council member Andrew Burr, approved a refinancing package at
an extraordinary general meeting held on 3 August. The company provides
pharmaceutical and prescribing information to primary care organisations
and recently opened a pharmacy at Tamworth, Staffordshire...[more]
Pharmacy numbers show little change Pharmacy
numbers in England and Wales changed little in the past year, according
to the latest statistics from the Department of Health...[more]
US pharmacist to launch talking instructions
recorder device in UK An American pharmacist is to market a
re-useable recording device for pharmacists in Britain. The device can
be used to record 60-second messages giving patients instructions on how
to take their medicines and other information...[more]
NICE endorses topotecan as second-line treatment
for ovarian cancer The National Institute for Clinical Excellence
(NICE) has endorsed the use of topotecan (Hycamtin) as a second-line treatment
for ovarian cancer in England and Wales...[more]
How to implement NICE guidance A handbook
to help health professionals implement guidance from the National Institute
for Clinical Excellence has just been published...[more]
New MS patients face restictions The
National Institute for Clinical Excellence has indicated that it will
not allow the use of interferon beta (Avonex, Betaferon and Rebif) or
glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) for treatment of new cases of relapsing-remitting
multiple sclerosis...[more]
Further bad news about antioxidants Antioxidant
supplements appear to reduce the effectiveness of lipid lowering drugs,
according to American researchers. The findings follow several trials
that have failed to show the value of antioxidant therapy in preventing
or treating cardiovascular disease...[more]
Confusion over compression level for prevention
of DVT in travellers Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) related to
air travel is in the news once again. However, expert opinion is divided
over which level of compression hosiery is best for preventing DVT...[more]
Guild’s opposition to aspirin availability
The Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists has declared its opposition
to a proposal to increase the availability of aspirin 75mg tablets from
non-pharmacy outlets...[more]
NEWS IN BRIEF
UK is 24th in world health league
The United Kingdom has been ranked 24th out of 191 countries in a league
table of national health systems compiled by the World Health Organization.
The WHO ranked countries according to their efficiency in turning expenditure
into health. Oman ranked first because it has drastically reduced child
mortality over the past 40 years (BMJ 2001;323: 307).
Pharmacy pain management Pharmacy
Alliance, UniChem’s medicines management division, is running a chronic
pain management programme through 30 independent community pharmacies.
The programme aims to identify problems related to the regular use of
strong opioids.
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