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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially declared the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and an increasing number of African countries as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR). This decision follows the guidance of an IHR Emergency Committee of independent experts who met on Wednesday (14 August 2024) to review data from WHO and affected countries. Considering the potential for the virus to spread further within African countries and potentially to other continents, the experts identified the upsurge of mpox as a PHEIC. A key factor in the declaration was the emergence and rapid spread of a new virus strain, clade 1b, in the DRC last year. While there has been a recent increase in mpox cases in the UK, no Clade 1 mpox cases have been confirmed so far, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended elafibranor 80mg tablets (marketed as IQIRVO) for treating primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), a rare liver disease. Developed by Ipsen, IQIRVO is the first medicine for PBC approved for use on the NHS in nearly a decade. Elafibranor is indicated for use in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in adults who have an inadequate response to UDCA, or as monotherapy for those who cannot tolerate UDCA. PBC is a lifelong condition that can worsen over time if inadequately treated, potentially leading to liver failure, the need for a liver transplant, or, in rare instances, premature death. Approximately 25,000 people in the UK are affected by PBC-90 per cent of whom are women. Early-stage PBC patients often suffer from severe fatigue and a persistent, debilitating itch known as pruritus.

Uncover the warning signs of thyroid disorders in men and provide insights from Dr. Ashish Saini, Consultant Endocrinologist at Kailash Deepak Hospital.

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is characterized by the consistent or recurrent inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. It becomes increasingly common with age, affecting approximately 50 - 55 per cent of men aged between 40 and 70 years. ED is estimated to affect up to three-quarters of men globally, and by 2025, 322 million men are expected to experience it. Research indicates that erectile dysfunction is highly prevalent in the UK, affecting over a quarter of younger men. Among Brits with ED, cardiometabolic and psychological conditions were frequently observed. Despite the high prevalence of erectile dysfunction among men, it remains poorly understood, underdiagnosed, and undertreated.

Cervical screening is one of the best ways to protect women from cervical cancer, which claims nearly two lives daily in England, according to NHS England. Therefore, all women and those with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 are encouraged to attend cervical screening when invited. Sadly, 3 in 10 of those eligible for cervical screening do not take up the potentially life-saving offer, as revealed by the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, England 2022-2023 annual report. Pharmacist Thorrun Govind, also a Healthcare Lawyer (Brabners LLP), underscores the significant role pharmacists and pharmacy teams can play in promoting cervical cancer screening. The former Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in England told Pharmacy Business: "Pharmacists and pharmacy teams are a trusted part of the local community. They therefore have a key part in promoting cervical cancer screening."