Fixing the UK’s medicines shortage crisis As the UK’s medicine shortage crisis rumbles on, continuing to put patients at risk, we take a closer look at the suspected roots of the issue to identify four ways the problems could be fixed.…
Don’t dismiss fears over switching generics, take it from two cancer ‘thrivers’ Ruth Edwards and Avril Chester share their experience of the impact medicines shortages can have on people who rely on long-term medicines after cancer treatment.…
MHRA approves first vaccine in ten years to protect children against pneumococcal diseases The drugs regulator has approved an extension for Vaxneuvance (PCV15) to cover children as well as adults.…
Will pharmacists go on strike over pay? An overview of the pay-related industrial action rippling through the NHS and whether or not pharmacy will be the next sector to react.…
Compassionate medicine schemes help patients with cancer live better and for longer — why are they not more widely used? Use of unlicensed or off-label medicines for patients with cancer can extend survival or improve quality of life, but access remains patchy.…
Government decision on tougher online pharmacy regulation expected ‘shortly’ Exclusive: The Department of Health and Social Care has said it hopes to publish a review of the Care Quality Commission's functions "shortly", which will inform its decision on whether the regulator's proposals for legislative changes around online prescribing are needed.…
Drug shortages linked with medication errors, study results suggest Data from the French Pharmacovigilance Database show that medication errors were identified in 11% of the 462 cases mentioning a drug shortage.…
Fragile medicines supply chain causing worst stock issues ‘in four years’, says wholesaler David McNicol, head of pharmacy sales at AAH Pharmaceuticals, put the "fragile" supply chain down to challenges in raw material availability.…
Shortage of active ingredient behind Gaviscon Infant supply issues, says manufacturer Exclusive: Reckitt said shortages of "key ingredient" medical grade sodium alginate has caused supply issues with the medicine.…
UK government is preparing guidance to help with type 2 diabetes medication supply issues Exclusive: Experts are "very concerned" about the shortages of semaglutide and dulaglutide and have warned it would be a lot of work to transfer patients to other medication options.…