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he Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA) and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiation Committee (PSNC) have urged the NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to issue urgent communications requesting that all those involved in medicines supply do not hoard, stockpile or over-prescribe Strep A antibiotics. In a statement HDA said that the sudden spike in demand for antibiotics used for the treatment of Strep A has meant that there is not enough of these medicines in the supply chain currently to meet this increased demand. As a result, wholesalers are working extremely hard with manufacturers to increase the supply of antibiotics. It added: "As regards pricing, the prices charged to pharmacies by HDA wholesale distributors will directly reflect the increase in prices wholesalers are having to pay for these medicines from manufacturers at the moment, in order to be able to continue supplying these medicines to pharmacies. This will be the case until supply and demand are more in sync."

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) and NHS England have agreed that community pharmacy contractors will have to participate in one mandatory national health campaign. This campaign on weight management commenced from Tuesday (03 January) and will run until Sunday (29January). PSNC said: "Pharmacies can be required to participate in up to six health campaigns at the request of NHS England per year (1st April to 31st March). Pharmacies will be involved by displaying and distributing leaflets provided by NHS England. In addition, pharmacies are required to undertake prescription-linked interventions on major areas of public health concern, such as encouraging smoking cessation. "Contractors can order pharmacy specific posters, wallet cards ('info' cards with a QR code signposting people to the Better Health website and free tips and tools to lose weight) and a dispenser for these cards on the Campaign Resource Centre website. A guidance leaflet to support community pharmacy teams' conversations with patients is also available," said PSNC.

In 2024, cannabis users will get more protection from their employers when it comes to smoking outside of work. In the meantime, here's a refresher on who can use weed - and when and where - in California. Can my employer penalize me for cannabis use? California recently passed a new cannabis bill, protecting employees from weed bias, but it will be a while before it goes into effect. Called AB 2188, it bans employers from discriminating against employees based on their use of weed off the job and away from the workplace. This includes the hiring, employment and termination processes. The law's exceptions include people working in the construction and building industry or positions that require federal background clearances. And while it protects off-duty smoking, employers will still have the right to fire or suspend employees for using weed or being high while at work. Although the bill was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, it won't be carried out until January 2024. Weed might be legal, but not for everyone Recreational cannabis use has been legal since 2016, but only for those 21 years old and over. Those under 18 who are caught with weed will be subject to drug education or counseling and community service. People who are older than 18 but under 21, will be fined up to $100. But minors can apply for a medical marijuana identification card to get weed for medicinal purposes. In California, children under 18 years old can apply as a patient if they are emancipated or have declared self-sufficiency status, according to the state's Department of Health. If they do not have this status, then the county will contact the individual's parent or legal guardian. The legal limit of weed How much cannabis you can have on hand is limited in California, according to the state's health and safety code. You'll be penalized if you possess more than 28.5 grams of weed, or more than eight grams of concentrated cannabis - essentially about one

In a recent announcement, King Charles has agreed to become a patron of the society at Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) following the footsteps of the late Queen. Buckingham Palace confirmed the news, marking the first anniversary of the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen. This prestigious appointment comes after a meticulous evaluation of over 1000 Patronages, previously held by The late Queen, The former Prince of Wales, and The former Duchess of Cornwall. The decision underscores His Majesty's commitment to supporting organisations dedicated to advancing healthcare and patient well-being. The RPS has a rich history of association with the Royal Family, notably with The late Queen, who served as patron from 1953 until her passing in 2022.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England last month issued a "safety critical" national patient safety alert, warning about the UK-wide shortage of a life-saving drug used to treat patients with chronic breathing issues. NHS trusts, health authorities, ambulance services, GP practices, private healthcare providers, and community pharmacy contractors were informed that salbutamol 2.5mg and 5mg nebuliser liquid unit dose vials are in short supply, with the latter likely to remain "out of stock" until mid-April 2024. As per the alert, the shortage of the drug resulted from a combination of manufacturing issues, leading to heightened demand for alternative suppliers. It was mentioned that while terbutaline, salbutamol with ipratropium, and ipratropium nebuliser liquids remained available, they could't meet the increased demand.

The States of Guernsey have urged Islanders to plan ahead for their medication needs ahead of the upcoming Easter weekend. With a reduced number of pharmacies expected to be open during the holiday, residents are being asked to arrange for their repeat prescriptions well in advance. Alternatively, the government body announced that residents can opt to wait until after the Easter period if they already have an ample supply of medication at home. This proactive measure aims to provide support to pharmacies and their staff, particularly during a period where demand for healthcare services may be heightened.

In what could be the longest consecutive strike action ever taken in the history of the National Health Service (NHS), junior doctors are set to begin their six-day walkout from tomorrow (Wednesday 3 January) at 7am, until 7am on Tuesday 9 January. As the record industrial action has come in the middle of growing winter pressures, the NHS England has warned that this week could be one of "the most difficult starts to the year" for health services across the country. With consultant busy covering urgent and emergency cases, the strikes could have a significant impact on almost all routine care. NHS National Medical Director, Professor Stephen Powis said: "This January could be one of the most difficult starts to the year the NHS has ever faced.

Pharmadoctor, a company which provides clinical service packages to pharmacists, has announced the launch of the UK's first private Covid vaccination service via its nationwide network of partner community pharmacies. For the first time, people who are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine (those aged 12 years and over) will be able to get the shots from their local independent pharmacy by paying as little as £45 per jab, the company said. The delivery of the new service is expected to start by 1st April at the latest by "thousands of pharmacists" using the Pharmadoctor eTool. To encourage pharmacists to sign up early to provide the service, the company is offering its package at half-price until 31st March.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has urged the NHS to take urgent action to prevent faults in the IT system underpinning the government's flagship programme. The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) recently confirmed that the issue in the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal had been resolved, and consequently, the deadline for submission of claims for February Pharmacy First consultations was extended until 15 March 2024. However, NPA members said that they are still facing problems, with the portal recording fewer consultations than entered by pharmacies, potentially leaving them out of pocket by thousands of pounds. Paul Rees, chief executive of the NPA, highlighted the significant achievement of pharmacies in delivering tens of thousands of consultations in the first month of the Pharmacy First programme, stating that this accomplishment is "a testament to their skill and dedication."

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) on Wednesday (14 February) launched consultations on two new pioneer curricula defining the clinical capabilities expected of entry-level advanced pharmacists practising in critical care and mental health. The advanced pharmacist critical care curriculum and the advanced pharmacist mental health curriculum are supplementary to the RPS core advanced curriculum. Interested stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on the content of the curricula, their feasibility in terms of delivery, their relevance to all countries, and how these may impact different social groups. Both consultations will be open until Tuesday 12 March, and members and non-members of RPS can submit their comments via the online form or the word document.

NHS England has agreed to offer an additional payment of £2.50 per jab if pharmacies would be willing to extend the duration of their COVID-19 vaccination contract until 31st August 2024. Pharmacies currently providing the autumn vaccination are asked to let their local commissioner know, by 22nd February 2024, if they can provide cover for a potential Spring booster programme, if the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises in their guidance expected to be published soon. NHS figures showed that more than 3,500 community pharmacies signed the contract to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations between 1 September 2023 and 31 March 2024, as part of the autumn booster programme. The health service is hoping that most of these pharmacies will be able to continue to support the Spring campaign, which will run from 1 April 2024 to 31st August 2024, to help protect the nation's most vulnerable populations. For the Spring campaign only, pharmacies would be offered an extra £2.50 per jab in addition to the existing item of service fee of £7.54, NHS England said.

As whooping cough cases rise sharply across the UK, the NHS has reactivated the serious shortage protocols (SSPs) for clarithromycin - a commonly prescribed antibiotic to treat this bacterial infection. Pharmacy bodies had recently warned that community pharmacies were struggling to obtain source clarithromycin for patients. Two SSPs, covering clarithromycin 125mg/5mL and 250mg/5mL oral suspensions, were reactivated on 22 May 2024, and extended until 21 June 2024. These protocols state that for every 5mL of clarithromycin 125mg/5mL oral suspension, pharmacy contractors must supply 2.5mL of clarithromycin 250mg/5mL oral suspension; and for every 5mL of clarithromycin 250mg/5mL oral suspension, one clarithromycin 250mg tablet must be supplied. The SSPs apply to cross-border prescriptions, both NHS and private.

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."

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has officially announced that Sebastian James, the Managing Director of Boots, will be stepping down from his role to pursue a new opportunity in the healthcare sector. James has given notice to leave the company and will remain with Boots until November. The UK pharmacy giant has already begun the search for a new Managing Director. James is set to take on the role of CEO at Veonet, a leading European chain of ophthalmology clinics. During his tenure as Managing Director since 2018, James played a pivotal role in transforming Boots into the UK's leading health and beauty retailer. He oversaw significant growth and innovation, achieving thirteen consecutive quarters of retail market share growth. Most recently, the company announced strong Q3 results in June with growth across all categories.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has urged non-GP partners and contractors, including pharmacists, nurses, and physiotherapists, to support their "Protect Your Patients, Protect Your GP Practice" campaign, which was launched to protest changes to the 2024/25 GP contract. GP contractors and partners across England have strongly opposed the modifications to the GMS contract, leading to an ongoing dispute with the NHS. The BMA highlights that general practice in England currently receives just 6 pence of every NHS pound and an average GMS 'global sum' of £107.57 per registered patient annually. Since 2018/19, CPI erosion to the GMS contract has resulted in a loss of £659 million, or 6.6%. This financial strain has contributed to the closure or merger of over 1,300 practices over the past decade. To address these issues, the BMA is urging all GP contractors and partner members to vote YES in the GPC England non-statutory ballot, which will be open until July 29.

In case of female partner that is unable to generate eggs, then the surrogate eggs are extracted in a stable environment and these are combined with the intended father's sperm in laboratory, and again transferred into the uterus of the surrogate who signed the contract that carries child until the delivery who is also known as traditional surrogacy or a surrogate who is biologically closure to the who is going to born.