Latest News from PMI

PDA calls on Earl Howe to suspend responsible pharmacist Regulations

Pharmacy minister Earl Howe has been asked to suspend the responsible pharmacist RP Regulations until the pharmacy profession has completed a review of supervision. In a letter sent to Earl Howe by the Pharmacists Defence Association, the Regulations are criticised as having created a burdensome bureaucratic process

British Oncology Pharmacy Association produces competencies for verifying cancer drug prescriptions

A document detailing 12 competencies for clinical pharmacy verification of oncology prescriptions has been produced by the British Oncology Pharmacy Association. The competencies, due to be published on the BOPA website, include bull; Demonstrating a basic understanding of common cancer terminology bull; Demonstrating knowledge of systemic therapy dose calculations bull; Demonstrating an understanding of the complications of cancer treatment

Co-operative Pharmacy offers stop-smoking advice for Muslims during Ramadan

Stop-smoking advice will be offered to Muslim customers of the Co-operative Pharmacy during the month of Ramadan this year, which is likely to run from 11 August to 9 September. A spokeswoman for the Co-operative Pharmacy said that abstaining from smoking during the four weeks of Ramadan can serve as a good starting point for quitting the habit.

BBC News Latest - Fixed retirement age to be axed

The government is planning to scrap the default retirement age in the UK from October 2011. Under the proposal, employers would not be allowed to dismiss staff because they had reached the age of 65.

Three cancer drugs recommended by NICE

Capecitabine Xeloda; Roche, gefitinib Iressa; AstraZeneca and rituximab MabThera; Roche have all been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in final guidance. Capecitabine is recommended, in combination with a platinum-based regimen, for the first-line treatment of inoperable advanced gastric cancer.

Women should be advised on importance of healthy weight for pregnancy

Women should be encouraged to achieve a healthy weight before they become pregnant and advised against eating for two once pregnant. The recommendations are set out in new public health guidance, published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence today 28 July 2010, on dietary and physical activity interventions for weight management before, during and after pregnancy.

New professional body membership free for first two months

Professional body fees will be waived in January and February 2011, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has decided. Fees for 2011 will be due by 1 March 2011 rather than in January as before, with no charge for the first two months of the year

Membership packs to be sent by new professional and regulatory bodies in September

Membership packs introducing the services that will be offered by the new professional body will be sent to members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society from 6 September 2010. Chief executive of the Society Helen Gordon said the packs will build on the information that has already gone out to members about the type of services and support the new body will deliver, including practice guidance, career support, mentorship programmes and network activity through local practice forums.

Community pharmacy has unique position in new NHS structure

Community pharmacy will have a unique position in the new NHS whereby it straddles both care services and public health services, says Jill Matthews, director for primary and community services strategy at the Department of Health.

Government announces £50m cancer drug fund

Patients in England will be eligible to receive anti-cancer medicines that were previously unavailable to them, through a £50m cancer medicines fund announced by the Government yesterday.