Medical conditions

First UK-wide joint asthma guideline recommends combination treatment for new diagnoses

The guideline recommends that all asthma patients over the age of 12 should be prescribed low dosages of inhaled corticosteroids and formoterol to address inflammation and symptoms.…

Community pharmacies administered more than half of all COVID-19 vaccines to people from ethnic minorities, data show

According to the Company Chemists’ Association, data from the spring 2024 COVID-19 vaccination programme show that more vaccinations should be commissioned from pharmacies to increase vaccine uptake, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.…

Adrenal insufficiency: pathophysiology, diagnosis and management

Patients with adrenal insufficiency are at risk of life-threatening adrenal crises. It is vital that pharmacists know how to treat this rare condition appropriately.…

NHS England seeks views on centralising flu vaccine procurement

NHS England says it wants to hear evidence of the benefits and challenges of a centralised procurement model in order to improve the effectiveness of the delivery of the flu vaccination programme.…

Pfizer and Flynn Pharma fined £69m for ‘excessive’ pricing of epilepsy drug

The Competition Appeal Tribunal has upheld the Competition and Markets Authority's 2016 decision that Pfizer and its distributor Flynn “were gouging the market” when the pricing of phenytoin sodium capsules resulted in costs to the NHS increasing from £2m in 2012 to around £50m in 2013.…

Generic weight loss drugs could alleviate shortages, says BGMA

Although the British Generic Manufacturers Association anticipates at least four companies receiving UK marketing authorisations for type 2 diabetes and obesity, it remains unclear how many will be rolled out immediately.…

Nearly 92% of atrial fibrillation patients in England anticoagulated, says NHS adviser

The UK Health Security Agency has achieved the figure five years ahead of its original 2029 target year by offering anticoagulation to nine in ten patients with atrial fibrillation.…

Test your knowledge of pain management

This CPD and learning quiz can help you assess your knowledge of pain management and related health issues.…

Trade association for OTC manufacturers launches series of case studies to promote self-care

The Proprietary Association of Great Britain’s self-care compendium is aimed to encourage use of community pharmacy and reduce the burden of minor ailments on integrated care systems.…

BMA conference considers proposal to scrap community pharmacy blood pressure checks

The motion proposed by the Devon Local Medical Committee describes “wastefulness” of money spent on pharmacy blood pressure checks, which it says should instead fund pharmacy dispensing fees.…