Regulation in healthcare

Number of overseas pharmacists applying to work in UK falls by two-thirds in one year

Exclusive: The fall follows a big increase in overseas-qualified pharmacists applying to the Overseas Pharmacists Assessment Programme in the previous year.…

Is the General Pharmaceutical Council making progress to improve its fitness-to-practise processes?

A closer look at measures being put in place to alleviate the rapid growth of fitness-to-practise concerns, an issue the pharmacy regulator has dubbed an “unprecedented challenge”.…

GPhC to add net zero targets into its pharmacy regulatory processes

The regulator has outlined plans to include environmental sustainability in its standards for pharmacy professionals and registered pharmacy premises, with its full action plan to be published later in August 2024.…

One-year route to registration for overseas qualified pharmacists proposed by regulator

The registration route would initially apply to non-European Economic Area and non-European Free Trade Association qualified pharmacists.…

Third of pharmacy organisations believe draft GPhC standards will have positive impact on chief pharmacists

Pharmacy bodies are calling for the General Pharmaceutical Council to work with other regulators, the government and stakeholders on how to implement changes in a consistent approach to regulatory standards.…

Coroner calls for government to take action on supply of medicines online

Isabelle Thistlewaite's report investigated the death of Nigel Dixon following an overdose from two controlled drugs — morphine and zopiclone — the latter of which was purchased online.…

Novo Nordisk reprimanded for failing to disclose payments of almost £8m to healthcare sector

The decision to publicly reprimand Novo Nordisk was based on hundreds of payments made to more than 150 healthcare organisations, professionals, and members of the public, amounting to £7.8m.…

Potency warning labels for topical steroids to be introduced following reports of adverse reactions

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said it had received 267 Yellow Card reports of withdrawal reactions from topical steroids in two years.…

MHRA announces development of tool for public to report websites selling fake medicines

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said the new checking tool will allow it to investigate and take enforcement action against unsafe websites.…

RPS launches updated patient safety professional standards

The standards are designed to help pharmacy professionals meet regulatory standards and were developed in collaboration with the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK and the Pharmacy Forum Northern Ireland.…