International and intergovernmental organisations

Marking the first World Patient Safety Day

Patient safety is a global challenge and, in May 2019, the 72nd World Health Assembly — through which World Health Organization (WHO) is governed by its member states — agreed that a World Patient Safety Day would be commemorated annually each year on 17 September, commencing in 2019. …

Medicines face six months of delays at the border in ‘worst-case’ no-deal Brexit scenario

Medicine and medical product supply chains could experience “severe extended delays” for up to six months in the “worst case” scenario after the UK leaves the EU, according to a government report.…

Jersey government could temporarily close pharmacies in no-deal Brexit scenario

Pharmacies on Jersey could be temporarily closed if a no-deal Brexit leads to severe medicines shortages, under an amendment to emergency powers passed on 10 September 2019.…

UK ‘not fully prepared’ for medicines importation in a no-deal Brexit, says hospital pharmacist body

The UK is “not fully prepared for the implications of a no-deal Brexit” despite ongoing government contingency plans, the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists has said.…

Cases of measles in Europe on track to double in 2019

The World Health Organization has recorded around 90,000 cases of measles in Europe in the first six months of 2019 — a higher figure than the 84,462 cases identified in the whole of 2018.…

One in seven five-year olds are not fully protected against MMR, warns PHE

Around 90,000 five-year-olds in England are not fully up to date with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, according to data from Public Health England.…

Leaked government document warns of ‘severe delays’ to medicines supply after no-deal Brexit

Exiting the EU with no deal in place will leave the UK’s supply of drugs “particularly vulnerable to severe extended delays” at the Channel crossing, a leaked government report has warned.…

Government tenders £25m contract for ‘express freight service’ to transport urgent medicines after Brexit

The Department of Health and Social Care is looking for bids on a contract to set up an “express freight service” ahead of the UK leaving the EU at the end of October 2019.…

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.…

Plans for importing medical isotopes changed after government review of no-deal Brexit proposals

Plans for daily importing of medical isotopes by plane after a no-deal Brexit were found to be inefficient following a government review, the NHS Confederation has said.…