Pharmaceutical industry

Outer space and the effect of radiation on drugs

I very much enjoyed reading the informative feature 'Drugs in space: the pharmacy orbiting the Earth' by Megan Tatum in the July 2020 issue of The Pharmaceutical Journal. In view of my studies on the effects of gamma and other ionising radiations on pharmaceuticals essentially for sterilisation …

I often confuse my plain white tablets — shouldn’t they have markings?

I am simply an ordinary patient of my local GP practice. I have several medical conditions controlled by a considerable number of tablet medications of various shapes, colours and sizes. I normally sort these into daily doses for seven days. Today, I noticed my morning intake of tablets w…

Government to consult on national falsified medicines detection system

The government has said it plans to consult the public on a national scheme to detect falsified medicines in the supply chain within a year after laws enabling the potential new scheme are enacted.…

First antimicrobial drugs purchased via new ‘subscription’ payment model

The first antimicrobial drugs have been purchased via the UK’s new ‘subscription-type’ payment model.…

Pharmacists told not to stockpile medicines as end of Brexit transition period nears

Pharmacists have been told not to stockpile medicines in advance of the end of the Brexit transition period.…

Wholesalers’ trade body says medicines supply will be ‘fine’ on the first day after Brexit transition period

The representative for wholesalers that provide 92% of the UK’s medicines has said he is confident that “everything will be fine” in terms of drugs supplies on day one after the end of the Brexit transition period.…

Martin Sawer: ‘On day one of Brexit, everything is going to be fine’

The executive director of the Healthcare Distribution Association is not concerned about immediate issues as soon as the Brexit transition period ends, but says there could be unforeseen knock-on effects on the availability of certain medicines.…

The man and his ‘illegal’ van trying to fix Glasgow’s drug problem

A van providing a safe space for drug users to inject is being piloted in Glasgow but, despite backing for the idea of such a facility from the Scottish government, Westminster says that it is illegal.…

Appropriate prescribing practices and considerations: a hospital pharmacist’s perspective (audio)

How pharmacists can implement age-appropriate prescribing and choose the right formulation in practice.…

Falsified Medicines Directive will close in Great Britain at the end of 2020

Pharmacies in Great Britain should ensure that their systems are no longer connected to the UK Medicines Verification System at the end of 2020, the UK FMD Working Group for Community Pharmacy has said.…