Pharmacy Health Focuses

It's not often that independent pharmacy gets the chance to benefit from an exciting new product launch with a £7 million consumer promotions campaign behind it. But with RegaineTM Foam launching now and targeting millions of UK men with an innovative solution to male pattern baldness, this is an opportunity you would be unwise to ignore.

Summer is the most important season for first aid sales, so now is the perfect time to ensure your pharmacy is fully prepared when it comes to family first aid essentials. The FirstAid Dressings category is now worth ﾣ65m, with Elastoplast taking a 27.1% value share.3 Whether it's taking steps to improve category merchandising, clueing up on new products or introducing impulse opportunities, Elastoplast can help with some simple steps to make the most of first aid during these all-important summer months.

Tackling obesity is a national priority, as its estimated that 60% of men, 50% of women and 25% of children will be obese by 2050(1). Many pharmacies already offer weight management advice to their customers. The launch of new pharmacy-only orlistat 60 mg will enable pharmacists to supplement the advice they offer with a clinically proven medicine.

No Smoking day takes place on Wednesday 11th March. The main messages of the day being that No Smoking day is a good opportunity for smokers to quit, there are health and other benefits to stopping smoking and smokers can get help when they want to stop.

Cold and 'flu is one of the most important OTC categories for retail pharmacy and while there may not be a special cold and 'flu 'week' to mark on your calendar, there is a definite season. Around 80 per cent of all colds and flu occur between September and March,1 making the autumn and winter months the peak time for requests for advice and sales of products.

Most parents dread the start of a new school year, with the risk that their children will be bringing home various unwelcome visitors.Around three million people in the UK catch head lice every year, and pharmacists are usually the first port of call for advice. This months Health Focus aims to provide independent pharmacists with the information and materials on the effective detection and treatment of head lice infestation.

As summer approaches, pharmacy customers will want to look and feel good, while keeping safer during the summer. Pharmacists can inform customers about suitable suncare products, guiding them through the confusion of sun protection factors (SPFs), and giving sensible suncare advice. This month's Health Focus aims to provide independent pharmacists with information on summer skincare, to help ensure their customers are protected.

This year's National Allergy Week runs from the 19th to 23rd May. Organised by the national charity Allergy UK, the awareness week will be focusing on the problems affecting allergy sufferers. In particular, this time if the year is bad for hayfever sufferers. Although hayfever isn't a life-threatening condition, it can cause a lot of distress. Research shows that hayfever can impair learning and school performance in children and teenagers.

Minor eye infections are a common problem in the UK, with 13 to 14 cases of infectious conjunctivitis per 1000 people each year (1). Although effective over-the-counter treatments are available, many people are still consulting their GP unnecessarily. In particular, pharmacists need to encourage more people into the pharmacy for OTC chloramphenicol eye drops and ointments. This months Health Focus aims to provide independent pharmacists with the information on managing minor eye infections through the pharmacy.

The UK is a nation of pet lovers, with 22% of households owning a cat and 19% owning a dog. Recent changes in the Veterinary Medicines Regulations(2) have led to increased marketing opportunities for community pharmacists, as more animal medicines are now available over the counter (rather than exclusively through veterinary surgeries). This months Health Focus aims to provide independent pharmacists with the information and materials to expand their pet health services and offer more choice to their customers.