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French drugmaker Sanofi will make 30 of its treatments, including insulin, available on a not-for-profit basis in 40 lower-income countries in the first step of its plan to increase access to its medicines worldwide. The treatments will be provided under the new Impact brand, part of Sanofi's global health unit launched last year, which sits outside the commercial business. The plan also includes the $25 million Impact fund, which will go towards supporting local start-up healthcare businesses and providing training on using the medicines, Sanofi said. "There's a lot of noise at the moment from different companies jumping into this space… but investing in entrepreneurship, in the ecosystem, is a new thing," said Jon Fairest, who heads the global health unit. The treatments available are on the World Health Organization's essential medicines list, and insulin in particular has been singled out by the UN agency as a life-saving medicine for diabetics that is difficult to access in many lower-income countries, where the burden of disease is growing.

Governments should invest in vaccines for all strains of influenza virus that exist in the animal kingdom as an insurance policy in case of an outbreak in humans, the incoming chief scientist at the World Health Organization said on Monday (Feb. 20). Countries ranging from the United States and Britain to France and Japan have suffered record losses of poultry in outbreaks of avian flu in the past year. The recent spread to mammals of H5N1 - commonly known as bird flu - needed to be monitored, but the risk to humans remained low, the WHO said earlier this month. Incoming WHO chief scientist Jeremy Farrar said he would like to see the pharmaceutical industry at least conduct some clinical trials for all influenza strains such that the world would not have to start from scratch to initiate global manufacturing should the need arise. "My concern that we're in slow motion watching something which may never happen," he added in a media briefing. "But if it were to happen, would we look back on what we're doing at the moment and say, why didn't we do more?"

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has advised locums that they are under "no direct obligation" to help contractors gather data for an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation. However, they may choose to assist the large contractors "to help ensure HMRC reach a final decision based on all the relevant facts," PDA said. The HMRC investigation into the tax status of locums forms part of the extension of the IR35 arrangements into the private sector. The IR35 came into effect from April to ensure that individuals working like employees through their own limited company pay the same income tax as paid by those employed by a company. In recent weeks, some contractors have contacted locum pharmacists to assist them in data gathering on their work arrangements.

Doctors are highly driven professionals seeking exceptional care and service for their clients. Some doctors may have private practices, while others serve in different capacities in various healthcare institutions. Doctors are among the busiest professionals in the field and may also experience burnout if they're not careful. Fortunately, there's an alternative to such a scenario, and more and more healthcare professionals are looking into it. Locum tenens jobs are on the rise as doctors, and other health workers seek to take advantage of various benefits that can lead to a better career. While doctors hold down their private practice, they also work with other institutions and colleagues to provide expertise to patients in other locations. This can be rewarding as the doctors can improve their craft tremendously. Here are some reasons to consider if you wish to explore locum tenens posts. Better control and schedule flexibility While career stability is quite important for most doctors, it can be intense for some and lead to burnout. When taking a locum tenens position, a doctor will have the opportunity to explore other horizons that present themselves. They can see other patients and be exposed to scenarios that may not be present in their practice. Locum posts also allow you to set your schedule and be flexible with your working hours as necessary. It can lead to better performance and job satisfaction, too. Opportunity for better income Accepting a locum position may entail getting extra shifts at another hospital or clinic. It may also mean getting some time with patients during your off days. You can receive a significant bump to your income as you get to earn more aside from your regular salary. If you're looking to pay off student loans, build a college fund for your kids, or set up an account to buy a house, working with locum posts may be the key.

Novartis on Wednesday (February 1) predicted that core operating income would grow in a "mid single digit" percentage range in 2023 following stagnation last year, as the Swiss drugmaker prepares to spin off its Sandoz generics business. Full-year core operating income was broadly flat at $16.7 billion, it said in a statement, coming in slightly below market expectations of $16.8 billion. Adjusted for overall negative currency effects, group sales in 2022 advanced 4 per cent to $50.5 billion as gains from heart failure drug Entresto and multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Kesimpta were partly offset by competition from cheap generic copies of established MS drug Gilenya. Novartis said it was on track to spin off its generics unit Sandoz in the second half of the year as part of its effort to sharpen its focus on its patented prescription medicines. Analysts have welcomed a programme unveiled in 2022 to trim costs and cut 8,000 jobs and plans to focus on fewer therapy areas and drug technologies. But the market has been underwhelmed by prospects for medium-term growth from new drugs.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed on Thursday (15 June) that everyone aged 60 and over will continue to receive free prescriptions. In response to a consultation launched by the DHSC in 2021 looking at whether the age free prescriptions become available should be aligned with the State Pension age, which is currently 66, the government decided to freeze the age at 60. Minister for Health Neil O'Brien said: "This government recognises the pressures with the cost of living caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. That's why we are providing cost of living help worth £3,300 on average per household over last year and this, among the most generous help anywhere in Europe. "It's also why we have decided to maintain the prescription exemption age where it is. Nine out of 10 prescriptions are already free at the point of use and on top of that we also provide financial help to others on low incomes who don't automatically get prescriptions for free. "Prescription charge exemptions will also remain in place for those aged under 16 or aged 17 and 18 but in full time education, while those in receipt of certain benefits can also receive free prescriptions," said DHSC. For those who do not qualify for an exemption or the NHS Low Income Scheme, prepayment certificates (PPC) are available to help with frequent prescriptions should they be required. The annual PPC can be paid for through 10 instalments. This means people can have as many prescription items as needed for just over £2 per week.

It is important to revisit our financial situation early in the tax year and the various ways in which we could save some tax, extract cash from the business and reduce tax liabilities. We list below some of the tax planning opportunities available in the current tax year (05 April 2023 for individuals and 31 March 2023 for corporates). Salaries As a director of a limited company, you are entitled to be paid a salary for your work and so are members of your family who work for the company. Paying at least a small salary can be very beneficial, particularly when the recipient does not already have the 35 qualifying years needed for entitlement to the full single-tier state pension, which is payable to those who reach state pension age on or after 06 April 2016. To preserve entitlement to state pension, and to ensure the year counts as a qualifying year, it is advisable to pay a salary at least equal to the lower earnings limit for National Insurance Contributions (NIC) which is set at £578 per month for 2022/2023 i.e., £9,100 per annum. Salaries may be beneficial where funds are needed in a recession for example, and the company does not have sufficient reserves to pay dividends. Dividends The annual tax-free dividend allowance for 2022/2023 is £2,000. Although referred to as an "allowance", it is actually a zero-rate band and therefore uses up your basic or higher rate band as appropriate. Dividends are treated as the top slice of income and for 2022/2023, dividend income is taxed at 8.75% to the extent it falls within the basic rate band, 33.75% if it falls within the higher rate band and 39.35% to the extent it falls within the additional rate band.

British drugmaker GSK has signed deals with three companies allowing them to make inexpensive generic versions of its long-acting HIV preventive medicine for use in lower-income countries, where the majority of new HIV cases occur. The injected drug cabotegravir is approved by regulators in Britain and the United States. Last July, GSK announced a program with the United Nations-backed healthcare organisation, the Medicines Patent Pool, aiming to get poor countries access to new HIV therapies far earlier than they did for previous HIV medicines. During the HIV/AIDs epidemic in Africa in the 1990s and early 2000s, in which many millions of people died, treatments used widely in wealthy countries were unavailable on the continent. GSK said last year the new program could result in the generic form of its injection being available in lower-income countries beginning in 2026. The drugmaker's HIV treatment division, ViiV Healthcare, said in a statement on Wednesday it had issued voluntary licenses - waiving intellectual property rights - to Aurobindo, Cipla and Viatris, which will manufacture the generic versions of injectable cabotegravir.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has called for a mandatory training for those who wish to sign fit notes. The union said it will be seeking urgent clarification around the rollout of guidance and timescales of when this will be available to PDA members working in primary care and hospitals, who will be at the forefront of the implementation. "As with any activity, regulated health professionals will be expected to ensure they have received adequate training and guidance before taking on new elements of practice and to ensure they are acting within the limits of their professional competency," said the association. It also highlighted that completing a fit note may have an impact on the income received by the patient and therefore the consequences of supplying the document could mean a direct financial consequence for them, such as eligibility for sick pay or insurance claims, as well as a health outcome. The PDA expects the mandatory training to cover any factors which will need to be considered in this regard so that pharmacists understand any limitations on when, how, and for who they might complete the fit notes.

The Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB) has called on the new Labour government to prioritise six key actions within its first 100 days to harness the benefits of self-care for the public, the NHS, and the wider economy. Aimed to ease the burden on the NHS, the PAGB hopes that the suggest six key actions would help during the incoming winter illness season. According to PAGB, the NHS deals with approximately 25 million GP appointments and 5 million A&E visits each year for self-treatable conditions. By empowering individuals to manage their own health more effectively, the NHS could potentially save up to £1.7 billion annually. In her letter to Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Michelle Riddalls, CEO of PAGB, urged the government to act promptly.

The UK's performance in hospital-based care is falling behind other high-income countries, according to a new report published by the Health Foundation. For hospital care waiting times, the UK ranked among the worst in a public survey of 10 nations, with 11 per cent of people waiting a year or more for a specialist appointment and 19 per cent facing the same delay for non-emergency surgery. Only Canada had comparable figures. The report published on Thursday (22 August) also pointed out that waiting times for specialist appointments have increased more rapidly in the UK than in other countries. In 2023, 61 per cent of people in the UK reported waiting more than four weeks for a specialist appointment, a significant rise from just 14 per cent in 2013. Over 21,000 people from across 10 developed countries, including over 3,000 from the UK, participated in the 2023 Commonwealth Fund survey.

A new analysis by the Nuffield Trust has revealed that NHS trusts in England are experiencing their worst financial deterioration in a decade, raising concerns that the government's reform plans could be at risk. The report found that the NHS trust sector, which makes up three-quarters of NHS day to day spending, recorded a £1.2 billion overspend last year, amounting to 0.9% of income in 2023/24. This is double the previous year's overspend, recorded at £448 million, and significantly worse than the modest financial surpluses seen in 2020/21 and 2021/22. The sector is in "as precarious a position it was in immediately prior to the pandemic," the report said. NHS trusts in the most deprived areas suffered the worst financial deterioration in 2023-24, with North West and Midlands reported the deepest deficits, accounting for 2.2% and 1.5% of revenues, respectively. The North East and Yorkshire have also seen the steepest declines in financial health since 2022/23. The underlying gap between stable incomes and outgoings across the provider sector was at least £4.5 billion last year.

The Hyderabad Police are actively searching for UK-based pharmacist M. Ajith Kumar, who is suspected of involvement in a plot to poison his estranged wife's family in Hyderabad by contaminating their spices with arsenic. While the accused allegedly succeeded in fatally poisoning his mother-in-law through a slow method, timely arsenic testing saved the lives of others. In late June, a newlywed woman in her 30s visited a Guntur-based doctor, complaining of intense burning, tingling, and numbness in her hands and feet. The neurologist's keen observation foiled the alleged sinister plot of Ajith Kumar, suspected of using his chemical expertise to harm his wife and her family. Presently, the police are actively searching for M. Ajith Kumar, who is currently in London, in connection with the murder plot. Furthermore, the Hyderabad police have apprehended six individuals from the city who were complicit in his nefarious scheme. The investigation gathered key information from arrested suspects, including D. Vinod Kumar, a UK-based IT professional from Andhra Pradesh. Vinod Kumar's involvement in UK software projects provided by Ajith Kumar generated a substantial monthly income, leading him to assist Ajith in his plot against his estranged wife's family.

An alliance of companies has pledged to ensure equitable access to vaccines and treatments for pandemics, as the friction around intellectual property rights for Covid-19 interventions between the pharmaceutical industry and developing nations endures. At the heart of the plan is a commitment to set aside part of the production of vaccines and treatments upfront for vulnerable populations in low-income countries when the next pandemic arises, given how fragmented access to Covid tools has left many populations unprotected. In order to do better next time - and without knowing which companies will develop the first drugs and vaccines for the next pandemic - having the industry collectively make this commitment is potentially transformative, said Thomas Cueni, head of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA). The pledge, called the Berlin Declaration, was made on July 19 by members of the global pharmaceutical industry group that include many of the companies involved in developing Covid interventions, such as AstraZeneca, GSK, Moderna, Pfizer and Merck. The declaration is not legally binding. However, if a company that signed on reneges on its vow, it would face grave consequences in the court of public opinion, said Cueni.

Thirty-five generic drug manufacturers will make a more affordable version of Pfizer's anti-Covid pill for the world's poorer nations, in licensing deals announced Thursday (17) by a UN-backed organisation. The global Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) signed agreements with three dozen manufacturers to produce the oral Covid-19 treatment nirmatrelvir for supply in 95 low- and middle-income countries. US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer signed a licence agreement with the MPP in November. The MPP, in turn, issued sub-licences to the generic drugs makers. The deals announced Thursday will "help ensure access to our oral Covid-19 treatment for patients in need around the world", said Pfizer chairman Albert Bourla.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has removed a pharmacist from its register who black-marketed 'zolpidem' along with another pharmacist between 2015 and 2016. Dean Zainool Dookhan, a pharmacist first registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain on 18 October 2004 and whose registration was later transferred to the General Pharmaceutical Council under registration number 2059808, was jailed last year for exporting 20,000 packets of zolpidem to the Caribbean. While hearing the case on 24-25 May, GPhC's Fitness to Practise Committee stated that "removal of the Registrant's name from the register is the appropriate and proportionate response to his convictions." "The public interest includes protecting the public, maintaining public confidence in the profession, and maintaining proper standards of behaviour. The Committee is entitled to give greater weight to the public interest than the Registrant's own interest in remaining on the register." "The Committee recognises the sanction has a punitive effect in that the Registrant's ability to practise and earn an income as a pharmacist and 28 his professional reputation will be curtailed; it will be five years before he can seek restoration to the register. However, that is the price he must pay for failing to comply with the fundamental tenets of his profession."

The government has announced a freeze to the NHS prescription charges, first time in 12 years, to help people ease with the cost of living and ensure prescription medication remains accessible. Charges for prescriptions will remain at £9.35 for a single charge or £30.25 for a 3-month prescription prepayment certificate (PPC), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said, adding that the measure will help save £17 million. The 12-month PPCs will remain at £108.10 and can be paid for in instalments, meaning people can get all the medicines they need for just over £2 a week, it added. The NHS low income scheme will also help with prescription payments, with free prescriptions for eligible people in certain groups such as pensioners, students, and those who receive state benefits or live in care homes. "The rise in the cost of living has been unavoidable as we face global challenges and the repercussions of Putin's illegal war in Ukraine. While we cannot completely prevent these rises, where we can help, we absolutely will," Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said. "This is why I am freezing prescription charges to help ease some of these pressures and put money back in people's pockets."

NHS England has launched a prescription savings campaign, particularly for those living with long-term conditions. The campaign is specifically for individuals residing in deprived areas as they receive more prescriptions than people in affluent areas. It is also known that people with low income could be entitled to help with costs or free prescriptions depending on their circumstances. The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA), an active member of the Prescription Charges Coalition, is actively striving to eliminate prescription charges in England as well. They are focussing on "NHS England's current efforts to minimise charges so that members practising in England can alert patients to this possibility".

The topic of death is often a sensitive and somber one, but it is also a reality that we must face. When someone passes away, there are many legal considerations that come into play surrounding their assets, property, and final wishes. Before delving into the specifics, you must first understand that laws and regulations surrounding death and inheritance can vary greatly depending on location. Different countries, states, and even cities may have their own unique set of laws and procedures in place. involved. That's why you need a legal overview to guide you through the process of protecting your rights in the case of death. Wrongful Death Lawsuits and Compensation In the unfortunate event of a wrongful death, where a person dies due to the negligence or misconduct of another, the bereaved family may seek compensation through legal action. Hiring a lawyer for wrongful death is the best course of action to navigate the complex legal process and ensure that your rights are protected. Wrongful death lawsuits can cover a wide range of incidents, from car accidents to medical malpractice. The compensation awarded in these cases may include funeral expenses, lost wages, and loss of companionship. Know that each case is unique and the amount of compensation awarded will depend on the deceased's income and potential earnings, their age, and the extent of their financial support to their dependents.

The King's Fund has published an in-depth analysis highlighting the priorities that the government's new 10-year health plan should address to combat health inequalities. This plan, currently being developed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England, will significantly shape the long-term future of the NHS. The independent think tank emphasises that a core focus of this new plan should be to enable the NHS to better address health inequalities and support people with the worst health outcomes. Sarah Woolnough, CEO of The King's Fund, explained: "Health inequalities are avoidable, unfair, and systematic differences in health between different groups of people, and they reflect broader societal issues such as those related to income, housing, gender, ethnicity or disability." "Supporting the health and care system to do more to tackle these differences has been a strategy priority for the Fund over the past five years." Drawing on its extensive work on health inequalities in the last five years, the charity has outlined seven key priorities that should shape the 10-year health plan: