Law

High Court quashes second request for judicial review of prescription switching protocols

A legal campaign group has lost a renewed effort to challenge changes to the law that mean the Department of Health and Social Care can allow pharmacists to switch patients’ medicines during a shortage, in line with a government protocol.…

Pharmacy drug-switching protocols a ministerial ‘power grab’, says shadow health secretary

Amendments to legislation allowing pharmacists to switch patients’ medicine without consulting their GP is “an extraordinary power grab” by health ministers, the shadow health secretary has said.…

Transparency required to prove fitness-to-practise process is non-discriminatory

The pharmacy regulator must be more transparent about how it conducts fitness-to-practise investigations if trust in its ability to do a fair job is to be maintained.…

NHS denied £2m of savings after hydrocortisone suppliers enter anticompetitive agreements, finds CMA

The NHS was denied potential savings on hydrocortisone tablets after two suppliers entered into anticompetitive agreements, the Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally found.…

Ministers threatened with judicial review over ‘unlawful’ consultation on prescription switching protocols

A non-profit group has threatened the government with legal action unless it revokes new powers designed to allow pharmacists to switch patients’ medicines if there is a shortage.…

Pharmacy multiples to ensure FMD compliance ‘as soon as practicably possible’

Pharmacy multiples in the UK have admitted they are unlikely to be ready for full implementation of the Falsified Medicines Directive before it comes into force across the EU on 9 February 2019.…

Marie-Anne Durham: coffee, ethics and David Attenborough

Spend a minute getting to know the winner of the 2018 Scottish Pharmacy Awards Student Leadership Prize.…

CMA investigates 1,600% price increase of liothyronine over eight-year period

The Competition and Markets Authority has refined its window of investigation into the alleged “excessive and unfair pricing” of liothyronine tablets, which it says has seen the NHS overcharged by millions of pounds.…

Pharmacy2U loses legal battle for contact details of NPA members

Pharmacy2U, the UK’s largest online pharmacy, has lost a legal bid to obtain the contact details of National Pharmacy Association members.…

Should the law change to allow more flexible pharmacy supervision?

Two pharmacists give their personal views on whether the current supervision legislation is fit for purpose.…