PJ, 2 May 2015, Vol 294, No 7860

Global vaccination efforts must be stepped up to break the chain of preventable diseases

Getting vaccination rates back on track must be prioritised at a global level to stop further outbreaks of preventable diseases.…

Can political parties keep their promises on the NHS?

Health organisations analyse the pre-election pledges of parties, and try to make sense of detail-light manifestos.…

Election manifestos miss the point about NHS staff capacity

NHS finances and staffing are typically prominent in UK general election campaigns, but there is a distinct lack of vision around the NHS’s workforce challenges and the impact that pharmacists can make.…

Olaparib halts tumour growth in advanced prostate cancer

Olaparib, a drug approved for the treatment of women with ovarian cancer who have inherited BRCA mutations, also benefits men with prostate cancer.…

Phenytoin protects against optical damage in multiple sclerosis

New research suggests that the anticonvulsant drug phenytoin, usually used in epilepsy, can help prevent nerve damage caused by acute optic neuritis in patients with MS.…

RPS to lead update to national prescribing framework

Pharmacists are to receive support tools and guidance as part of a planned update to the national prescribing framework.…

Smokers who use e-cigarettes are less likely to quit

Smokers who used e-cigarettes were less likely to have quit or reduced their cigarette consumption compared with those who had never used e-cigarettes, research suggests.…

Researchers identify biomarkers for corticosteroid asthma response

Researchers have identified a gene, VNN1, that is significantly expressed in children with asthma who have a good response to corticosteroids but not in poor responders.…

Working in GP practices: let’s get this right

I have been following with interest recent correspondence and media activity on pharmacists working in GP practices. The communication at the launch and thereafter failed to get across the true intent of this initiative, resulting in widening divisions within the profession rather than creatin…

Massive global response to assist survivors of Nepal Earthquake

A massive global response is under way to assist people affected by Nepal’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit on 25 April 2015 killing and injuring thousands of people.…