Sophie Willis

Investigations editor

Weight loss drugs make up ‘very small’ proportion of illegal medicines trade in UK, says MHRA

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency highlighted that illegal weight loss medicines aren't a “substantial challenge” as the agency has made “900 or so seizures” of trafficked weight loss injections.…

Pharmacy owners vote to reduce services in protest against funding levels

In a ballot of National Pharmacy Association members, 98% of those representing pharmacies in England expressed a willingness to close outside the minimum hours required by their contract.…

One-quarter of patients in pharmacogenomics trial have had prescriptions changed

Around 25% of the 400 participants of the 'Progress programme' have been advised to change their prescription following genetic testing.…

NHS-commissioned review recommends new national health data service to monitor prescribing

The review urges that national data on hospital and high-cost medicines should be available through the single national data access systems by the end of 2025.…

Integrated care board launches campaign to reduce medicines waste

The campaign focuses on the issue of unused medicines waste, which costs the NHS an estimated £300m per year.…

Proposed National Pharmaceutical Agency on hold, says Scottish government

Exclusive: The Scottish government has confirmed that the scoping phase in the development of a National Pharmaceutical Agency was paused before completion, with no next steps planned.…

Why are increasing numbers of students dropping out of pharmacy education?

Data show more and more students are dropping out of the MPharm programme, which is being attributed to students’ mental health, financial difficulties, a changing education programme and a return to normalcy post-COVID.…

Lack of joined-up working between pharmacy and general practice is ‘nonsensical’, says former BMA chair

Speaking at a House of Commons event, Chaand Nagpaul called for pharmacy and GP contracts to be aligned “for certain pathways of care”.…

UK to introduce framework for the manufacture of medicines at point of care

The government aims to relieve pressure on hospitals by delivering care in community settings and patients’ homes, expanding ‘hospital at home’ services.…

Medicines regulator receives 46 reports of hospitalisations linked to weight-loss drugs

As of 16 August 2024, the MHRA had received 5,073 reports of common gastrointestinal reactions related to GLP-1 RA use, of which 46 reported hospitalisation of the individual.…