Healthcare provision

Caution is needed with e-cigarettes

In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), known as e-cigarettes. The working party responsible showed less enthusiasm than Margaret Cunningham ( The Pharmaceutical Journal 2014;293:599 ). Its appraisal of the …

Pharmacy-led statin support service in general practice helps patients reach cholesterol targets

Using pharmacists to support statin-prescribing in general practice improves patients’ chances of reaching their cholesterol targets and has a lasting effect on the prescribing behaviour of GPs.…

Ebola clinical trial suspended after volunteers complain of joint pains

A phase I clinical trial of the fast-tracked Ebola vaccine VSV-ZEBOV has been halted in Switzerland because some trial participants developed mild joint pain.…

Paper towels versus hot air hand dryers — which is more hygienic?

Despite the myth that hot air dryers are more hygienic, Andrew Haynes explains that paper towels are actually better for three important reasons.…

Chemoprevention with tamoxifen cuts risk of breast cancer by almost 30%

Tamoxifen used in primary prevention cuts the risk of breast cancer by around 30% and this benefit lasts for at least 20 years, a long-term follow-up of the International Breast Cancer Intervention Study shows.…

Antimicrobial resistance will lead to an additional 10 million deaths each year worldwide by 2050

Failure to address growing resistance to antibiotics and other drugs will result in the deaths of an additional 10 million people each year worldwide by 2050 and cost the global economy up to US$100tn, projects a UK report.…

Government advisory board members concerned about removal of anonymity for error reports

Community pharmacists in England may face an increased risk of prosecution for a dispensing error because of changes made to their national contract, according to some members of a government advisory board.…

Pharmacy risks being sidelined as NHS evolves, report warns

Pharmacists risk missing the opportunity to expand their clinical responsibilities within a changing NHS in England because of a failure to reform funding arrangements and a lack of consistent messages about the role the profession can play.…

EURMED launched to facilitate medicines donations in response to global appeals

An initiative described as a “step change” in the ability of the European pharmaceutical industry to donate medicines in response to global disasters or appeals for humanitarian aid has been launched.…

MURs should target patients with cardiovascular disease from January 2015

Community pharmacists will be expected to offer medicines use reviews to patients with cardiovascular disease and those who are at risk from 1 January 2015, national negotiators have confirmed.…