The government has allocated an additional 350 medical school places in England, making a significant step in delivering the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.
Supported by more than £2.4 billion in government funding, the plan outlines the strategy for recruiting and retaining hundreds of thousands more staff over the
next 15 years to deliver the future workforce the NHS requires.
One of the key commitments of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan is to double the number of medical school places in England to 15,000 by 2031.
As part of the ongoing efforts to fulfill this pledge, the Office for Students (OfS) has designated 350 places for medical schools nationwide for the academic year
2025 to 2026, targeting under-doctored areas.
Provision of free lateral flow tests could end in the UK, and prime minister Boris Johnson is expected to make the big announcement within weeks, The Sunday Times has reported.
The report said that in future free test kits could be provided only in high-risk settings such as care homes, hospitals and schools, and to people with symptoms, and contact tracing by NHS Test and Trace is also expected to be scaled back.
The newspaper quoted a senior Whitehall source as saying: "I don't think we are in a world where we can continue to hand out free lateral flow tests to everybody.
"It's likely we will move to a scenario where there is less testing, but we have a capacity to ramp it up if necessary."
It added that more than £6 billion of public money has already been spent on mass testing.
Separately, Dr Clive Dix, former chairman of the country's vaccine task force said that Covid-19 should now be treated as a flu, and mass vaccination campaigns should end after the booster shots in the UK.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) launched a new Innovative Medicines Fund on Tuesday (June 7) under which £340 million has been made available
to purchase potentially life-saving drugs early.
This will allow NHS patients in England to have early access to potentially life-saving and cutting-edge treatments
Health secretary Sajid Javid said: "I want NHS patients to be the first in the world to access the most promising and revolutionary treatments that could extend or
save their lives.
"The launch of the Innovative Medicines Fund delivers another manifesto pledge and will fast-track cutting-edge medicines to adults and children to give people
renewed hope for a better future."
A total of £680 million has been ringfenced for the Innovative Medicines Fund and Cancer Drugs Fund - £340 million each - to fast-track medicines to NHS patients.
DHSC said: "The Innovative Medicines Fund will provide quick access to novel treatments, including potentially lifesaving gene therapies for serious conditions with
few treatment options. It often takes longer for pharmaceutical companies to collect data on a medicine's clinical and cost effectiveness for rare diseases due to
the smaller patient cohort.
Kelso Pharma, the growing UK based specialty pharma business, has announced its first product launch with the release to the UK prescription medicines market
of Acepiro (Acetylcysteine) 600mg effervescent tablets.
Acepiro 600 mg effervescent tablets are indicated in adults only and are being made available to hospital and community prescribers in 20 and 30 day packs, with the
30 day pack consistent with monthly prescribing. The NHS List Price for the 30 day pack is £4.40, with the 20 day pack priced at £3.65.
Acepiro is being launched by Stirling Anglian Pharmaceuticals (SAP), which was acquired by Kelso Pharma one year ago, providing a new UK platform and springboard for
future sales growth for the business. The new product complements SAP's existing portfolio of three medicines:
CosmoCol (macrogol 3350 plus electrolytes) powder for oral solution - an osmotic laxative indicated for the treatment of chronic constipation and faecal impaction.
Stirlescent (naproxen) 250mg effervescent tablets - containing naproxen, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended icosapent ethyl also called Vazkepa manufactured by Amarin for adults who have cardiovascular disease with controlled LDL-C levels taking a statin.
It's final draft guidance is expected to be available on the July 20.
Nearly half a million people are expected to benefit from the first licensed treatment shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people with
controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C - sometimes called "bad" cholesterol) who are taking a statin and who have raised levels of triglycerides.
NICE said: "Clinical trial evidence suggests that for people with raised triglycerides who have LDL-C levels controlled by statins, and who have cardiovascular disease, icosapent ethyl reduces their risk of cardiovascular events by over a quarter compared with placebo.
Helen Knight, interim director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: "Icosapent ethyl is the first licensed treatment of its kind for people who are at risk of heart attacks and strokes despite well controlled LDL cholesterol because they have raised blood fats. And although lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, can help to reduce their risk, these may not work for everyone.
In partnership with the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) has recently established an innovative
cardiometabolic clinic.
The clinic focuses on reducing cardiovascular risk in people with diabetes who have recently been discharged from LTHT following a heart attack. It is delivered jointly by the cardiology department at Leeds General Infirmary and the diabetes services at the Trust.
This is a patient-centred approach to reducing that risk, with pharmacist-delivered clinics scheduled for six to eight weeks after the heart attack.
Stephen Wheatcroft, Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine and Consultant Cardiologist at LTHT, said: "This is an exciting and innovative development, one of the
first in the country. Previously, Type 2 diabetic patients presenting with heart issues would have been treated by two separate specialty teams. This is the first time there has been a specific clinic combining the cardiac and diabetes team working together.
"We aim to reduce the risk for patients, with earlier multidisciplinary hospital care, to help discharged patients achieve better diabetes control, through improved medication support and optimisation, reducing the need for further treatment and future hospital stays. Overall, it will mean a better patient experience, with improved monitoring and information about treatment options, along with a reduction in waiting times for review in a specialist clinic."
A groundbreaking research project has revealed that the public is urging the government to prioritise primary and community care over hospitals.
The study also found a strong public willingness to pay higher taxes to enhance NHS services.
The Health Foundation and Ipsos UK conducted the research, combining nationwide polling with in-depth public deliberative workshops.
These workshops, held in King's Lynn, Leeds, and London, constitute one of the most comprehensive public consultations about the future of the NHS in England.
The study published on 16 May underscores the public's desire for a redistribution of NHS resources. If the NHS budget remains unchanged, 60 per cent of those
polled believe the government should focus on improving access to community-based services like general practice and dentistry.
Alliance Healthcare, the UK's largest pharmaceutical wholesaler, has pledged to support the global efforts to cut carbon emissions, as set out at the recent UN Climate Change Conference, COP26.
The company's pledge is in line with its aim to create "healthier futures and thebusiness", on which it has been working on for years.
It aims to become the most sustainable independent full-line pharmaceutical wholesaler in the UK by 2030, ensuring to remain the sustainable partner of choice for its customers and manufacturers.
Despite significant sales growth in the quarterly results, high street chemist Boots is moving forward with its plan to close 300 stores in the UK. The move,
aimed at improving profit margins amid rising costs and competition, will reduce the chain's portfolio from around 2,200 to just 1,900.
Last month, the U.S.-based Walgreens Boots Alliance, the parent company of Boots, announced upcoming store closures within the next year. However, the company
assured that there will be no job losses as all employees will be given the opportunity to be redeployed to nearby shops.
The following sites are confirmed for closure on the specified dates:
Heathside Rd, Woking (end of July)
UEA campus (end of July)
Hamlet Ct Rd, Westcliff-on-Sea (August 1)
Windhill Road, Wakefield (October 6)
Upper Warrengate, Wakefield (October 7)
Glastonbury (October 13)
Guildford Road, Woking (end of October)
Boots stores at Salford Shopping Centre in Greater Manchester, Church Street in Malvern, The Port Arcades Shopping Centre in Ellesmere, and King William Street
in London have already closed since spring.
After I have finished playing some casino games, using my, Juicy Stakes Casino bonuses, I am hungry. What should I eat? A juicy steak (wink, wink)? Fried
chicken? An Ingestible Pill? Wait, what? What is an ingestible pill? Is that a food or vitamin? Actually, it is neither.
It is new technology developed by Pfizer. Pfizer is the pharmaceutical company that gave us the COVID vaccines that do not provide lifetime immunity to COVID or
even prevent you from getting it in the short term. Pfizer is also the company that created the COVID medicine Paxlovid, which cause Biden to get a rebound COVID
right after he supposedly recovered from COVID.
Ingestible Pills are a version of a digital pill
A digital pill is also known as a smart pill or an ingestible sensor. It is a pharmaceutical dosage form that contains an ingestible sensor inside of a pill. The
sensor begins transmitting medical data after it is consumed.
This pill and its other related technology are considered Digital Medicine. The purpose of the sensor is to determine if a person is taking their medicine or they
are not taking their medicine. In other words, is the patient complying with taking their medicine or are they not complying with taking their medicine?
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and The Pirbright Institute have launched a new collaboration to develop vaccines against henipavirus, a genus of
viruses that includes Nipah virus.
Funded by the Medical Research Council, this research aims to develop a vaccine that provides cross protection against the whole genus, addressing the threat of
outbreaks from new or emerging henipaviruses and strengthening epidemic preparedness.
Scientists at UKHSA will evaluate the protective efficacy of vaccines developed by The Pirbright Institute by using use a model of Nipah virus disease, which
mimics the infection in humans.
Professor Isabel Oliver, chief scientific officer at UKHSA, stated that the study would improve understanding of henipaviruses and enhance efforts to protect
health from this "current and future global health threat."
"The work will also make a vital contribution to the 100 Days Mission - an important initiative to make sure the world is better prepared for the next pandemic
by accelerating the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines," he added.
The World Health Organization called for caution on Tuesday (May 16) in using artificial intelligence for public healthcare, saying data used by AI to reach
decisions could be biased or misused.
The WHO said it was enthusiastic about the potential of AI but had concerns over how it will be used to improve access to health information, as a decision-support
tool and to improve diagnostic care.
The WHO said in a statement the data used to train AI may be biased and generate misleading or inaccurate information and the models can be misused to generate
disinformation.
It was "imperative" to assess the risks of using generated large language model tools (LLMs), like ChatGPT, to protect and promote human wellbeing and protect public
health, the U.N. health body said.
As we take look back over the past year and reflect on what we have achieved, it's also important that we look ahead to new challenges and opportunities that
may arise in 2023. We have seen remarkable innovation across the industry in 2022, from big break throughs in treatment and improvements to patient outcomes, to how
the industry is working with big data and technology. But it's fair to say that these achievements came paired with just as many challenges including a continued
talent shortage, hangovers from the pandemic, increasing pressures to innovate and ongoing macroeconomic challenges.
As we head into 2023, I expect these existing challenges to continue alongside new ones, but I also anticipate more opportunities to present themselves. At
Pharamanovia, we predict that the key trends set to catalyse the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries in 2023 include break through innovations, technology,
big data, sustainability, ongoing policy changes and a shift in investment due to inflation.
Utilising big data and tech
Technology has been recognised as one of the industry's biggest tools for many years, and I don't expect to see the pace of how we use technology in healthcare and
pharma to slow down any time soon. In 2023, I expect that we will see further automation in the way we work, with an increase in digital engagement and healthcare
providers leveraging remote access further.
The number of people living to be 100 or more increased by 3.7 per cent in England and Wales in 2022, compared to the previous year, according to new
figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
ONS data also revealed that the number of centenarians in the UK has more than doubled in the last two decades.
Wales has more centenarians (27 people per 100,000 aged 100 or over) than England (25 people per 100,000).
It's good news that more people are living into their second century, but it also means that we may need to rethink our health plans for a longer future, a leading
testing expert has suggested.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has created a new NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) to support the successful delivery of health and
social care research in England.
The network, which will start operating from next year, will play a critical and active role in implementing government policies.
It will support in implementing the Life Sciences Vision, the Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery vision, and policy for life sciences research and development.
The new network would be mainly working on growing the amount of commercial clinical research as its key strategic ambition.
Also, NIHR RDN will be responding to the findings of the Lord O'Shaughnessy review, which set out a clear blueprint for how the UK can return to its global
leadership role.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has said that it strongly supports the UK government's proposal that individuals born on or after 1 January 2009
should be prohibited from legally purchasing tobacco products.
It has also shown its agreement to several other actions proposed by the Department of Health and Social Care's (DHSC) for 'Creating a Smokefree Generation and
Tackling Youth Vaping' including:
The inclusion of all tobacco products, cigarette papers, and herbal smoking products in the new legislation.
Restrictions on the sale and supply of disposable vapes, and vape flavours.
RPS President, Professor Claire Anderson, said: "Our recommendations reflect a commitment to creating a future free from the harms of tobacco and youth vaping.
It's crucial to prohibit access for the youngest generation, regulate all tobacco-related items, and address the allure of flavoured e-cigarettes."
British Pharma giant, GSK is planning to invest more than £200 million (about $253 million) into the United Kingdom over the next two years to strengthen
its manufacturing network.
The money will be used to improve the pharmaceutical group's UK sites, including construction of new facilities and assembly lines, The Daily Mail first reported
on Sunday.
GSK has already earmarked £67 million to upgrade its manufacturing site in Montrose, Scotland, where a new production facility is being constructed. The upgrade
is expected to help boost its production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for the future supply of medicines.
Regis Simard, head of global supply chain, told the publication that their six UK manufacturing sites, including Montrose, are an important part of their global
manufacturing network.
With the Labour Party now in power, there is keen interest in the healthcare initiatives they pledged during their election campaign and how these proposals
will shape the future of NHS.
One of the key pledges in their healthcare reform is the introduction of the Community Pharmacist Prescribing Service, which aims to empower pharmacists with
independent prescribing rights where clinically suitable.
While pharmacists appreciated Labour's acknowledgment of their role in patient care through expanded prescribing rights, they foresee some challenges in
implementing the service.
"Budgets will be a key issue," said Pharmacist Thorrun Govind, also a Healthcare Lawyer (Brabners LLP).
However, she noted that, given the success of pharmacist prescribing services in the devolved nations, there is "a road map in place."
As the population continues to age, the number of dementia cases in the UK could increase to rise to 1.5 million by 2040, a new study has predicted.
The study report from Future Health also cautioned that over half a million people with dementia could remain undiagnosed by 2040, representing an increase of
nearly a quarter of a million compared to the current figure, if there is "no progress in improving diagnosis rates."
At present, approximately 850,000 individuals in the UK are living with dementia, with an estimated 315,000 cases going undiagnosed.
Sponsored by Lilly, the study also highlighted significant variations in diagnosis rates across the four nations. Despite improvements, England's dementia
diagnosis rate stands at 64.6 per cent, falling short of the two-thirds target.
The Self-Care Strategy Group (SCSG) has written to Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, urging the new Labour government to fully realize self-care's benefits.
With PAGB serving as the secretariat for the Group, signatories of the letter also include CPE, RPS, CCA, NPA, the Dispensing Doctors' Association, the National
Association of Primary Care, the Patient Information Forum, and the Self Care Forum.
The nine members highlight the importance of collaborative efforts to build an NHS fit for the future.
In the letter, the group emphasises the potential of self-care to alleviate pressure on primary and emergency healthcare services.
They call for expanded prescribing rights, optimised digital health tools, and streamlined referral processes between primary, diagnostic, and specialist care
services.