NEWS
RGU PHARMACISTS PUBLISH PRESCRIPTION REVIEW
Pharmacists and nurses are as effective as doctors when it comes to prescribing medications, according to a review written by Robert Gordon University (RGU) academics.
The review, entitled ‘Non-medical prescribing versus medical prescribing for acute and chronic disease management in primary and secondary care’, was undertaken by RGU’s Professor Derek Stewart and Dr Katie MacLure, alongside Dr Johnson George and Dr Greg Weeks from Melbourne’s Monash University.
The team’s aim was to establish whether health professionals other than doctors, with varying levels of training, were as effective as usual medical prescribers.
A total of 46 relevant studies were collected and analysed, which examined pharmacists and nursing prescribers across the world and in various different settings. These studies included over 37,000 participants.
A number of countries allow health professionals other than doctors to prescribe medication. In the UK, a range of health professionals, such as pharmacists and nurses can undertake specific training which allows them to prescribe medicines within their competence, which previously could only be prescribed by doctors.
The aim is to provide improved and
timely access to medicines for patients where there are doctor shortages or the health system is facing pressures.
The team found that, while there were limitations with the studies reviewed, the outcomes for non- medical prescribers were comparable to medical prescribers for a wide range of conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes control and high cholesterol.
The review, which has now been published by the Cochrane Collaboration, has already been cited by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in their move to allow pharmacists to routinely prescribe medicines for people with long-term conditions.
‘This is the largest and most comprehensive review to date of the effectiveness of non-medical prescribers,’ said Professor Derek Stewart, one of the review’s authors.
‘While we acknowledge the limitations of the studies reviewed, this does provide more evidence that suitably trained pharmacists and nurses can prescribe medicines and gain the same benefits when compared to doctors.
‘These findings also support Scottish Government strategy for developing the roles of pharmacists, nurses and other health professionals.’
LLOYDSPHARMACY SUPPORTS DEMENTIA CHARITIES
Last month’s Black Friday event saw LloydsPharmacy donate one per cent of all of that day’s sales to its charity partners Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland.
Managing director of Celesio UK, Cormac Tobin said that the event was a ‘perfect way for us to show our commitment to our charity partnership. Fighting against dementia is a cause that is so close to our hearts and the hearts of our customers and we’re delighted to be in a position to show our support in this way.’
The event proved to be the most successful one yet, with a major donation handed over to the charity partners in the New Year.
‘We now know that dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK, and alarmingly it’s still a misunderstood, underappreciated condition,’ Cormac Tobin continued. ‘As a community pharmacy network, with a team of expert health professionals, we’re in a great position to connect with our customers and patients that have concerns about dementia or may be living with the condition.’
NEW ACQUISITION FOR INTAS
PHARMACEUTICALS
Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd, through its wholly owned subsidiary Accord Healthcare Ltd, has announced it has completed the deal to acquire Actavis UK Ltd and Actavis Ireland Ltd from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd for £603 million.
The transaction is part of the European Commission’s anti-trust divestiture requirements arising from Teva’s acquisition of Allergan’s generics business.
‘The completion of this acquisition captures a great opportunity for growth and demonstrates Intas’ commitment to greater European
expansion,’ says Binish Chudgar, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Intas. ‘The joining of these two companies, means we can continue our successful European operating path, which started more than a decade ago. We are a leading generics player in the UK market, with a clear plan for continued growth and development of the Barnstaple site and the Actavis team. Through our subsidiary, Accord Healthcare, we are welcoming the Actavis team into the Intas family and will ensure a smooth integration of the two businesses.’
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