Group items tagged

Authorities in Northern Ireland have seized more than 242,000 unlicensed prescription tablets purchased online and destined for addresses throughout NI. The medicines seized include Diazepam, used for anti-anxiety treatment, Pregabalin, used for epilepsy and anxiety, steroids and Zopiclone. Other prescription medicines recovered included Tamoxifen, often used in the treatment of breast cancer and Salbutamol inhalers, frequently used in the treatment of asthma. "Co-operation between law enforcement agencies and government departments has led to the seizure of over 242,000 illegal and unlicensed tablets purchased online and destined for addresses throughout Northern Ireland," justice minister Naomi Long was reported as saying. The minister, together with health minister Robin Swann and assistant chief constable Mark McEwan PSNI were highlighting Northern Ireland's input to the global, Interpol co-ordinated Operation Pangea XV, which saw multiple packages of tablets intercepted and seized, with a street value of almost £250,000. She praised the concerted efforts made by PSNI, Border Force and officials from the Department of Health Medicines Regulatory Group during a specific week of action in June.

The Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seized a large quantity of suspected illegally traded medicines, including powerful prescription-only medicines, during raids conducted at two residential and two business premises across North Manchester. Officers from the MHRA and Greater Manchester Police carried out searches across two residential addresses in Oldham and Cheetham in the early hours of Wednesday (29 November), and arrested a man in his 20s on "suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, breaches of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and money laundering." They also seized thousands of illegal medicines from two business addresses in Bury and Miles Platting, including powerful opioid painkillers and antidepressants, as well as unlicensed versions of erectile dysfunction drugs.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the port of Cincinnati seized two unapproved shipments of weight loss drugs, including one from a UK pharmacy, last month. On 5 October, CBP officers seized a shipment declared as "cosmetic weight loss product" and found containing Mounjaro injectable pens of multiple doses (2.5mg, 5mg, and 7mg). The shipment, arriving from a UK pharmacy and heading to a residence in Ohio, violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection report. Cincinnati CBP officers on 14 October intercepted another shipment, which was also destined for an Ohio residence. This shipment from Hong Kong contained 20 vials of Semaglutide 10 mg and 150 Tirzepatide 30 mg, with a domestic value of $45,450. LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director of Field Operations-Chicago, stated that seizures involving these types of unapproved medications are a common occurrence that her officers see on a regular basis.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) has seized a quantity of suspected unlicensed medical products including unlicensed versions of Botox, numbing agents and dermal fillers in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Officers from the MHRA and Greater Manchester Police conducted a raid across nine addresses in Bolton, Westhoughton and Leigh in the early hours of Thursday 13 July 2023, where two women and a man were arrested. Andy Morling, MHRA Deputy Director of Criminal Enforcement said: "Medicines like these are powerful and dangerous in the wrong hands, potentially leading to serious adverse health consequences. The criminals trading in these products are not only breaking the law, they also have no regard for your safety. It is illegal to advertise, sell or supply medicines such as these without the appropriate authorisation. If you see these products, or any other powerful medicines, being sold on social media or elsewhere online, think. It's unlikely to be legitimate. You can help the MHRA take action by reporting concerns to us through our Yellow Card scheme.

The MHRA's Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU), working with other law enforcement partners, has seized more than two million "illegally traded medicines" this year, with a total value of £5 million. The products confiscated in the UK were prescription-only medicines including anti-depressants, pain medication and human growth hormones. The MHRA launched an initiative, Operation Pangea, 15 years ago to combat "illegal internet trade in medical" products. Andy Morling, the Deputy Director of Criminal Enforcement of MHRA, spoke about Operation Pangea's 15-year anniversary. "Fifteen years ago, the MHRA started Operation Pangea, combining our knowledge and resources with those of international partners to disrupt and bring to justice the criminal gangs responsible for selling medicines illegally and causing harm around the world.

Customs officials at Mundra port in Gujarat's Kutch district, India, recently seized approximately 6.8 million Tramadol tablets valued at Rs 110 crore (around GBP 10.2 million). The tablets were discovered in two export containers bound for Sierra Leone and Niger in West Africa. Tramadol, an opioid pain medication, was classified as a psychotropic substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) in 2018 and its export is now restricted. This synthetic opioid drug has gained notoriety in recent times as the "Fighter Drug" after it was reported that ISIS fighters used it to stay awake for long hours, said a PIB release on Monday. It is reportedly in high demand in African nations like Nigeria, Ghana, etc. The Mundra Customs seizure is one of the largest seizures of Tramadol since it was notified under the NDPS Act, said the release.

The underwater vehicle was taken about 50 nautical miles (90 km) northwest of Subic Bay, Philippines, Thursday night, in a non-violent incident, said Capt. Jeff Davis, spokesman for the Pentagon.The event took place while civilian crew USNS Bowditch was recovering a pair of "naval gliders" that regularly collect information on water temperatures, salinity and sea clarity.

A Nottingham-based pharmacist has been struck off the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) register for bringing "the profession into to disrepute" by stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds in a bid to settle his gambling debt. Peter Sameh Saad (33) spun a web of lies and duped a friend out of more than half a million pounds to fund his addiction and pretended he had "serious if not terminal" testicular cancer. "It is difficult to imagine a more heinous fraud than one predicated on feigning a cancer diagnosis", a GPC panel ruled. Saad committed three frauds on a total of £536,689.95 between September 2018 and May 2019. First, he tricked a friend, whom he knew through his local church, into sending him around £288,200 by claiming that his newly-purchased pharmacy in US was "seized" by the authorities over visa issues and that he "had some difficulty making the mortgage payments". Later Saad conned the same friend, named only as 'Person A' in court documents, into sending him a total of £127,150 by lying about a non-existent cancer diagnosis and private treatment. Finally, he extracted a further £121,339.95 from an investments and credit group (named Company A) of which his friend was chief executive after inviting him to set up a 'pharmaceutical warehouse', a plan that "impressed Person A and he agreed to invest in the business."

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned the public to avoid buying pre-filled weight loss pens without a prescription. The warning came after 369 fake Ozempic injections have been seized since January 2023. However, Saxenda pens were obtained by members of the public in the UK through "non-legitimate routes". The health regulator has urged the public to buy the pens after consulting a healthcare professional and with a prescription. Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer shared her opinion on the matter, she said: "Buying products such as Ozempic or Saxenda without a prescription, from illegally trading suppliers, significantly increases the risk of receiving something which is either fake or not licensed for use in the UK.

It's 2022 and data is everything, isn't it? Advertising, decision-making, you name it, data is behind it. What if an ePharmacy could use its own data as an asset? If you knew that sooner or later, you'll be able to turn your data into a revenue stream, wouldn't that be something? And this is exactly what Convert Group does. Convert Group offers the complete eCommerce SaaS ecosystem that helps ePharmacists and brands grow sales, streamline collaboration, and seize data monetization opportunities. Built for scale, Convert Group's platform leverages automation and offers a unique user experience backed by our leading eCommerce team.

Join the battle against pain! Worldwide, 93% experience it annually, with 1 in 3 enduring daily agony. But our approach needs refinement. Introducing our Pain Management Webinar! In just 60 minutes, equip yourself with strategies to combat pain effectively. Here's what's covered: Pharmacists' Evolving Role: Moving beyond medication. Perfecting Pain Assessment: Quantifying patient discomfort. #ListenToPain: Enhancing patient communication. Tailored for British pharmacists addressing acute and chronic pain. Seize this opportunity to make a tangible difference. Reserve your spot now for invaluable insights!

Join the fight against pain! Globally, 93% of people experience it annually, with 1 in 3 enduring daily suffering. However, our approach requires improvement. Introducing our Pain Management Webinar! In just 60 minutes, equip yourself with strategies to effectively combat pain. Here's what we'll cover: Pharmacists' Evolving Role: Moving beyond mere medication. Refining Pain Assessment: Quantifying patient discomfort accurately. #ListenToPain: Improving patient communication. Tailored for British pharmacists dealing with both acute and chronic pain. Seize this opportunity to make a real difference. Reserve your spot now for invaluable insights!

This year has been another turbulent year for the UK pharmacy sector. The sector continues to undergo significant transformations, driven by evolving healthcare needs, regulatory shifts, and economic pressures. For pharmacy owners, staying abreast of these trends is crucial to navigating the challenges and seizing opportunities. IQVIA, a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence, delves into the key issues, challenges, and developments shaping the sector, drawing insights from the latest industry data and reports, supported with data released by NHS England (NHSE). The community pharmacy landscape remains unsettled, with disruptive market dynamics at play. The decline in the number of pharmacies, particularly within the Managed Chains channel, underscores the volatility of the market. The number of active pharmacy contractors in England has dropped significantly, with more closures than openings each month, exacerbated by the exit of Lloyds Pharmacy from the UK market which completed at the end of 2023. In the year ending June 2024, there was a net closure of 440 sites within NHSE which equates to a 4% decline in available pharmacies1. The increase in closures from June 2023 was driven by the closures of Lloyds in Sainsburys and the ongoing divestment of the Boots estate.

Three Wembley drug gang members have been sentenced for their involvement in a large-scale importation and distribution of unregulated pharmaceutical drugs into the UK from India. Salman Ansari, 33, and his wife Juhi Ansari, 32, of Central Road, Wembley, were among the defendants who were found guilty after a six- week trial and sentenced on 25 October at Southwark Crown Court. Salman and another gang member Waqas Saleem, 33, of Sylvia Gardens, Wembley, were found guilty of 12 counts of possession with intent to supply drugs (Class A, B and C), one count of conspiracy to supply Class C and one count of money laundering. While Salman received a six-year prison sentence, Waqas Saleem was sentenced to two and a half years. Juhi was found guilty of one count of money laundering and received a suspended sentence, requiring her to complete 100 hours unpaid work and 25 days rehab. During the operation, the City of London Police seized over 730kg of drugs, including opioids and benzodiazepines, which are commonly misused for their sedation effect and can be fatal when combined.

In a powerful display of unity, thousands of pharmacies across the UK participated in a nationwide protest today, organised by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), as part of its #saveourpharmacies campaign. The NPA's day of action was aimed at drawing attention to the severe crisis in pharmacy funding that has forced 1,400 pharmacies to close over the past decade and left thousands more struggling. Participating pharmacies showed their protest through various actions like dimming lights, blacking out their windows, wearing black for the day, or discussing pharmacy funding with customers. Many pharmacies also seized the opportunity to interact with parliamentary candidate, urging them to address the funding crisis.

Finding one thing you relish is essential, otherwise you won't persevere with it. American state music conjures up me to figure onerous throughout exercise however most are completely different. To urge started it can be a walk every evening when dinner, seizing a replacement sport, attempting a Zumba the category, sport to figure, attempting greenish blue aerobic exercise chances square measure endless.

Thirteen people were arrested following raids at four drug manufacturing units in the Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan, resulting in the seizure of mephedrone valued at Rs 230 crore (approximately 22.30 million GBP), according to a news agency report. The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Narcotics Control Bureau conducted the raids jointly on Friday, prompted by a tip-off received by the ATS indicating that Ahmedabad resident Manoharlal Enani and Kuldeepsinh Rajpurohit from Rajasthan had set up mephedrone manufacturing units, PTI reported on Saturday, quoting an official. As stated in an ATS release obtained by the news agency, the raids were conducted at the units in Sirohi and Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Piplaj village in Gandhinagar and Bhaktinagar industrial area of Amreli district in Gujarat. "The ATS recovered 22.028 kilograms of mephedrone (in solid form) and 124 kilograms of liquid mephedrone, collectively valued at Rs 230 crore(approximately 22.30 million GBP). "Rajpurohit was nabbed during the raid in Gandhinagar and Enani was held from Sirohi," it said.