International and intergovernmental organisations

Medicine product information changed 228 times as a result of new EU pharmacovigilance system

A strengthened EU-wide system to detect, assess and act on new or known adverse drug events has created a “new era for patient protection and transparency in patient safety,” according to an analysis of the system.…

EU council members suggest relocating drugs manufacturing processes to Europe

Members of the Council of the European Union have debated whether relocating medicines production back to the EU would mitigate medicines shortages.…

Manufacturing problems cause 60% of medicines shortages, say European wholesalers

Manufacturing problems are causing more than 60% of medicines shortages across Europe, the body that represents European drug wholesalers has said.…

Government spends £87m on contracts to deliver extra freight capacity for no-deal Brexit

The government has signed contracts with four transport companies worth £87m in total, which it says will help to ensure the continued supply of medicines.…

Nadia Bukhari appointed as FIP global lead for gender equity and diversity

Nadia Bukhari, a former member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society English Pharmacy Board, has been appointed as a global lead for gender equity and diversity with the International Pharmaceutical Federation.…

No-deal Brexit likely to increase cost of new medicines, Scottish government says

The Scottish government has said it is “likely that the cost of new medicines in the UK will increase” under a no-deal Brexit.…

More than a quarter of medicines yet to be stockpiled for no-deal Brexit

More than a quarter (28%) of medicine product lines do not have a six-week stockpile of medicines in preparation for a no-deal Brexit, according to figures given to the National Audit Office by the Department for Health and Social Care.…

European Commission approves first CBD medicine for severe epilepsy

A cannabidiol-based medicine for severe epilepsy has been given marketing approval by the European Commission.…

For patients’ sake, no-deal Brexit must be avoided

Despite much preparation, crashing out of the EU without a deal throws up too much uncertainty for patients for it to be a viable option.…

No-deal Brexit: pharmacy bodies question the UK government’s readiness

Not all pharmacists are convinced by the government’s claims that it is ready to leave the EU without a deal in place.…