Health and care policy

Drug firms call for next UK government to set sights high for NHS and life sciences

The trade body representing medicines manufacturers has called on the next government to bring current healthcare spending of 9.9% of GDP into line with the G7 average of 11.3%, in order to help the NHS become one of the best health services in the world.…

Transformation of NHS at risk unless government funds shift to community health services, warns King’s Fund

Government plans to transform the NHS in England, outlined in its ‘Five year forward view’, are in jeopardy unless it recognises the social care crisis and funds the necessary shift in services out of hospital into the community, the King’s Fund think tank has warned.…

The Murray review: moving in the right direction

On 20 December 2016, six days after the long-awaited report by the King’s Fund’s Richard Murray on the provision of clinical services in community pharmacy was published, health minister David Mowat described the review as “an essential road map that sets out how we are going to mo…

What pharmacist Annie Pannelay does as a consultant for a media company

Annie Pannelay works in the healthcare practice of the Economist Intelligence Unit — as a pharmacist, not a journalist.…

EU drug spending fell after 2008 recession

Report finds fall in pharmaceutical spending since financial crisis and disparity in public medicines coverage across EU.…

FIP draws up first global pharmacy workforce development goals

A set of global workforce development goals for pharmacy has been drawn up for the first time. It is hoped that the development goals will shape the future of the profession and its education and training standards worldwide.…

Time to recognise the importance of non-patient facing roles in pharmacy

Pharmacists are needed and are just as important in roles that are not clinical or patient facing.…

Non-patient facing roles in hospital pharmacy are just as vital as patient facing ones

Roles such as procurement are important in hospital pharmacy services and should not be brushed aside.…

Challenges of sharing pharmacy best practice internationally

There are many barriers to overcome to ensure best practice is shared more widely on an international level.…

Gething confirms £80m fund for high-cost medicines in Wales

A central fund worth £80m that will pay for the immediate use of new, high-cost medicines that are approved for use in Wales has been announced by Vaughan Gething, cabinet secretary for health for the Welsh government.…