A pharmacist in a leading independent pharmacy chain shares his myth-busting Ramadan advice on managing health and the use of medication while fasting.
While the holy month means total fasting in terms of oral consumption, it's still ok, says Ifti Khan, superintendent pharmacist at Well Pharmacy, to have
vaccinations and blood tests and to use eye drops or other medical items that are not ingested through the mouth.
It's also important for people to keep taking their prescribed medication over the Ramadan period. Anyone who is concerned should speak to their pharmacist about
whether they can take their medicine at different times, as stopping it could have serious consequences.
Mr Khan, who will be observing Ramadan himself, said: "Confusion can sometimes arise when it comes to medication and managing health conditions whilst fasting",
adding it is important for patients to keep managing health during Ramadan.
Having injections or vaccinations is fine, as are blood tests, using eye or ear drops, and using anything that patients don't consume orally - so nicotine and other
transdermal patches, pessaries and dialysis, for example. It's also ok to eat and drink as a result of a condition which causes forgetfulness.
Britain almost doubled the number of visas awarded to foreign migrants coming to work in the health and care sector last year, government data showed,
adding to pressure on prime minister Rishi Sunak over immigration ahead of the next general election.
Immigration is one of the top three concerns for voters as the country gears up for an election expected later this year. Trailing the opposition Labour party
in the polls, Sunak has vowed to bring it down.
But data released on Thursday by Home Office was the latest set of statistics to show the scale of the challenge he faces.
Britain granted 337,240 work visas in 2023, 26 per cent higher than in 2022, with the rise largely driven by those coming to the country to work in the care home
sector.
That follows figures released in November which showed annual net migration to the UK hit a record 745,000 in 2022 and has stayed high since.
Visas under the 'Skilled Worker - Health and Care' route almost doubled, Thursday's data showed, rising by 91 per cent to 146,477 last year.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has alerted pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy owners via email regarding new emergency legislation
governing the prescribing and supply of puberty-suppressing hormones, commonly known as 'puberty blockers', for children and young people under 18 in England,
Wales, and Scotland.
The regulations apply to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, used to suppress puberty as part of treating gender incongruence or gender dysphoria in
individuals under 18.
Effective from 3 June 2024, new private prescriptions for GnRH analogues from prescribers in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland who are not UK
registered are banned from being dispensed in Great Britain for patients under 18.
The emergency ban on these medicines will remain in effect until September 3, 2024, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced on 29 May, stating
that the action has been taken to address risks to "patient safety."