GovernmentOrganization

Pharmacy minister defends freezing funding for community pharmacy as meeting pharmacy negotiator’s terms

The pharmacy minister has defended the decision to freeze funding for community pharmacies over the next five years by saying it provides the level of certainty that pharmacy negotiators wanted.…

Some strengths of fluoxetine unavailable until December 2019

Manufacturing issues affecting the supply of the antidepressant fluoxetine mean that some strengths may not be available until December 2019, the Department of Health and Social Care has warned.…

Labour Party’s compulsory licensing plans would ‘undermine’ medicines development, says pharmaceutical industry

Compulsory licensing to secure generic versions of patented medicines would “completely undermine” medicines development, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has said in its response to plans announced by Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party.…

Free prescription penalty charge system is ‘not fit for purpose’, say MPs

The penalty charge notice system in England, which fines people up to £100 for wrongly claiming a free prescription, is not fit for purpose and needs to be overhauled, MPs have said.…

Government appoints Jo Churchill as new pharmacy minister

Jo Churchill has been appointed as the new parliamentary under-secretary of state for prevention, public health and primary care at the Department of Health and Social Care.…

Industry and pharmacy bodies confirm signing government ‘gagging orders’ over no-deal Brexit plans

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee is one of several pharmacy bodies to have signed non-disclosure agreements preventing them from disclosing the UK government’s plans for a no-deal Brexit.…

Boris Johnson announces £1.8bn funding boost for the NHS

The prime minister, Boris Johnson, has confirmed what he says is a one-off cash boost of £1.8bn for NHS hospitals in England.…

New clinical roles in cardiovascular disease and hepatitis C in community pharmacy contract

Community pharmacists could be involved in detecting undiagnosed cardiovascular disease under plans laid out in the ‘The Community Pharmacy Contract Framework for 2019/20 to 2023/24’.…

DHSC to reform Category M reimbursement prices by April 2020

The government has proposed adjusting Category M drug reimbursement prices to ensure that pharmacy contractors are receiving equitable access to the medicines margin.…

Health prevention green paper aims for 95% uptake of childhood vaccinations and a smoke-free England

A vaccination strategy will be launched in early 2020 with the aim of achieving at least 95% uptake for childhood vaccinations, along with a continued uptake of the seasonal flu vaccine, the government has announced.…