NHS to start testing prototype of single national formulary in June 2026 Delegates at the Clinical Pharmacy Congress 2026 heard that the test phase of the single national formerly prototype will begin alongside the development of draft national guidance on local formulary standardisation.…
Health news round-up: public health, cardiovascular risk and take-up of new medicines on the NHS Our weekly summary of important developments in pharmacy and health news you may have missed.…
OTC medicines spend reduced for second year running Office for National Statistics figures show that real-terms spending on over-the-counter medicines in 2024 was £7.6bn, down from £8.1bn in 2023.…
Nasal decongestant spray use limited to five days The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said that the new rules follow reports of rebound congestion related to prolonged use.…
Weight-loss drug to be offered to patients at risk of stroke or heart attack In response to the new recommendation, sector leaders have called for the NHS to “mobilise the pharmacy network” as weight-loss medications are offered to an increasing number of patients.…
Drug–food interactions: pharmacological principles and management strategies A summary of the underlying pharmacological principles for common drug–food interactions, outlining practical management strategies that can be used with patients in clinical practice.…
London’s first drug-checking service could expand to more cities Under the drug-checking service, users can submit substances for testing and will subsequently receive “anonymous, non-judgemental chat”, alongside tailored harm reduction advice.…
Over-the-counter medicines are being purchased by children as young as 13 years, reveals survey Overall, more than half of the survey respondents had used over-the-counter medicines in a six-month period.…
NHS prepayment certificates may have saved patients nearly £500m in prescription costs The NHS Business Services Authority's experimental analysis of data from 2024/2025 also revealed that prescriptions could have cost patients more than £800m in charges if they did not use a prepayment certificate.…
Brands help patients choose most appropriate OTC drugs Nearly two-thirds of respondents to a survey by consumer healthcare association PAGB said trust in a brand influenced their decision to buy over-the-counter medicines.…
