NEWS
RESPONSE TO PSNI CONSULTATION ON FEES
The NPA has responded to the PSNI consultation on fees. Registration fees were expected to increase in June 2015 however this did not occur due to the discovery of irregularities with fee payments, being inconsistent with the regulatory fee structure.
The consultation puts forward proposals to amend Regulations, providing an interim fix pending a more detailed review of fees and associated legislation.
In the NPA response they refer to the irregularities and challenge any situation whereby registrants are forced to pay inappropriate or incorrect fees which are not reconcilable with regulations and question why the consultation is taking place within the context of the current review of pharmacy regulation and professional leadership in Northern Ireland.
The NPA also re-iterate that the Pharmaceutical Society has a duty to its registrants to control its costs as efficiently as possible to ensure that fees do not rise uncontrollably in relation to the provision of registration and regulation. you can read the full response here
http://www.npa.co.uk/wp- content/uploads/2016/02/PSNI-Cons ultation-on-Fees.pdf
REGISTER yOUR PLACE
The next NPA conference will take place 8 May. The ‘Meeting the Challenge Together: Business and Practice Solutions for Independent Community Pharmacies’ conference for NPA members, will take place on Sunday 8th May in Huddersfield.
This highly practical event is an opportunity for you to meet with fellow independents in a relaxed atmosphere and take practical steps to improve your working environment, profitability and service to patients. you will also be able to discuss the independent sector’s response to the Department of Health’s plans for cuts and ‘efficiencies’ in community pharmacy.
This event is free of charge and is suitable for all members of the pharmacy team, you are welcome to bring more than one colleague with you on the day. Register your place at
http://www.npa.co.uk/news-and- events/events/meeting-the-challenge -together-conference/
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pharmacyinfocus.co.uk Alternatives to Antibiotics unlikely to provide short-term solution
Professor Brendan Gilmore, of the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University has joined a panel of international experts from academia and industry to undertake a Wellcome Trust commissioned review on Alternatives to Antibiotics.
The review examined the potential of 19 alternatives to antibiotics, and found that whilst the most advanced approaches (antibodies, probiotics and vaccines in phase 2 and 3 trials) held promise, they would most likely be adjunctive or preventative therapies rather than true replacements for antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance needs to grow into “big science” to deliver new innovative alternatives to antibiotics, with an estimated £1.5 billion in funding required over the next ten years to develop these alternatives.
Commenting on the review, Professor Gilmore said, “The findings indicate that alternative to antibiotics currently under development, some of which are well advanced, are unlikely to provide a short term solution to the problem of antibiotic resistance. Indeed, the most advanced of these alternatives are likely to be adjunctive or preventative therapies, with none at the stage of supplanting conventional antibiotics
altogether. This once again underlines the urgent need to discover or invent new antibiotics – a key focus of my group’s work at the School of Pharmacy.”
Antibiotics have saved countless lives and enabled the development of modern medicine over the past 70 years. However, it is clear that the success of antibiotics might only have been temporary and we now expect a long-term and perhaps never-ending challenge to find new therapies to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A broader approach to address bacterial infection is needed. In this Review, the researchers discuss alternatives to antibiotics, which they defined as non-compound approaches (products other than classic antibacterial agents) that target bacteria or any approaches that target the host. The most advanced approaches are antibodies, probiotics, and vaccines in phase 2 and phase 3 trials.
This first wave of alternatives to antibiotics will probably best serve as adjunctive or preventive therapies, which suggests that conventional antibiotics are still needed. Funding of more than £1·5 billion is needed over 10 years to test and develop these alternatives to antibiotics. Investment
Professor Brendan
Gilmore, of
the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s
University
needs to be partnered with translational expertise and targeted to support the validation of these approaches in phase 2 trials, which would be a catalyst for active engagement and investment by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Only a sustained, concerted, and co-ordinated international effort will provide the solutions needed for the future.
The review, Alternatives to Antibiotics – A pipeline portfolio review, jointly funded by the Department of Health (England) Policy Research Programme, is published in Lancet Infectious Diseases.
R&D Strategy to take £10m investment for Community Pharmacy
A new research and development (R&D) strategy for the Health and Social Care (HSC) sector in Northern Ireland has been published with investment of over £10m annually.
The new strategy aims to enhance the health, wellbeing and prosperity of people in Northern Ireland through world renowned research and development.
It aims to build on the success of its predecessor, strengthening links between research and better policy making, increasing success in competing for additional funding, enhancing our research infrastructure and effectively communicating the findings.
Independent evaluation of the impact of previous investment in this area has highlighted significant benefits, including:
• An estimated £4.14 additional funding attracted to research per £1 of HSC R&D funding allocated; • Support of 1.3 jobs per project funded;
Professor Peter Coyle, Consultant Virologist, Regional Virus Laboratory
• high quality peer reviewed publications; • high quality posts secured by clinical and academic research staff; • creating opportunities to attract additional funding through direct partnerships with other funders.
Outlining his priorities for research funding in the coming years the Minister for Health Simon Hamilton said, “Northern Ireland is internationally acknowledged as a leader in many areas of health and healthcare related research.
“We only have to look at recent advances in research into the
treatment of pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis as examples. Northern Ireland researchers also lead many clinical intervention trials in critical care and ophthalmology and our expertise in nutrition and food research is widely acknowledged.
“Recognition of Northern Ireland as a centre of excellence for research into precision medicine across the UK also enhances our standing while the innovative work of the Northern Ireland Genomic Medicine Centre will continue to build our reputation internationally.”
At the launch, Minister Hamilton congratulated staff on the work they have carried out recently in developing and licensing a rapid test for a severe form of bacterial meningitis. The ‘LAMP’ test is used for Meningococcus - the most common cause of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia in the UK and Ireland with up to 2000 cases annually, affecting mostly babies, young children and adolescents. This new test is faster, simpler and less costly than other similar tests and had the potential to be used at the patient’s bedside in an emergency department.
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