From the Globe and Mail:
Provinces are lashing back at proposed federal regulations that would extend the patent life of a number of popular medications and postpone the introduction of generic copies, a move that could cost drug plans hundreds of millions of dollars.
"Generic drugs here play an important role in the sustainability of the provincial plan, so delays in accessing those generic drugs will have a direct cost impact on the provincial drug plan and also [on] patients who pay for their own drugs," said Johanne Leblanc, a spokeswoman for the New Brunswick government.
New Brunswick has written to the federal government to express its concerns and to urge further consultation, she said.
The federal government has not released a list of which drugs will be affected. But the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association, which represents the country's generic drug manufacturers, has said it could include such popular medications as Viagra, the cholesterol drug Lipitor, the blood-pressure medication Norvasc and the arthritis treatment Celebrex.
New Brunswick's provincial drug program spent almost $14.5-million last year on Lipitor, Norvasc and Celebrex alone, said Ms. Leblanc. ...more
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Review suggests asthma drugs safe, effective in COPD
From Reuters:
Previous research has linked a class of asthma drugs known as long-acting beta agonists to increased risk of adverse respiratory-related events or death in patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
However, a report published this month indicates this may not be the case.
The new report suggests that long-acting beta agonists have beneficial effects in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD and do not appear to increase the risk of respiratory deaths. Examples of long-acting beta agonists used to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions include Advair, Serevent, Foradil and Symbicort.
In the study, Dr. Gustavo J. Rodrigo, from Hospital Central de las Fuerzas Armadas, Montevideo, Uruguay and colleagues pooled data from 27 randomized clinical trials that compared two long-acting beta agonists with placebo or with two long-acting "anticholinergic" asthma drugs (for example, Spiriva) in patients with moderate to severe COPD. ...more
Previous research has linked a class of asthma drugs known as long-acting beta agonists to increased risk of adverse respiratory-related events or death in patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
However, a report published this month indicates this may not be the case.
The new report suggests that long-acting beta agonists have beneficial effects in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD and do not appear to increase the risk of respiratory deaths. Examples of long-acting beta agonists used to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions include Advair, Serevent, Foradil and Symbicort.
In the study, Dr. Gustavo J. Rodrigo, from Hospital Central de las Fuerzas Armadas, Montevideo, Uruguay and colleagues pooled data from 27 randomized clinical trials that compared two long-acting beta agonists with placebo or with two long-acting "anticholinergic" asthma drugs (for example, Spiriva) in patients with moderate to severe COPD. ...more
Monday, May 26, 2008
Pharmacist helps colleagues expand their patient care; Works wins Tom Smiley national recognition
From the Brantford (Ont.) Expositor:
Tom Smiley has spent 10 years helping pharmacists do more for their patients than count out pills and warn them about side-effects. That work has won Smiley the Pharmacist of the Year award from the Canadian Pharmacists Association.
Smiley has worked for Dell Pharmacy in Brantford since 1982. Ten years ago, he formed his own company, Pharmavision Health Consulting, to write continuing education programs for pharmacists. Smiley has also been involved with integrating pharmacists into family health care in Ontario.
"I'm helping to set the road for pharmacists to assist in patient care," he said. ...more
Tom Smiley has spent 10 years helping pharmacists do more for their patients than count out pills and warn them about side-effects. That work has won Smiley the Pharmacist of the Year award from the Canadian Pharmacists Association.
Smiley has worked for Dell Pharmacy in Brantford since 1982. Ten years ago, he formed his own company, Pharmavision Health Consulting, to write continuing education programs for pharmacists. Smiley has also been involved with integrating pharmacists into family health care in Ontario.
"I'm helping to set the road for pharmacists to assist in patient care," he said. ...more
Antipsychotics given for dementia pose risks: study
From Reuters:
Elderly dementia patients prescribed antipsychotic drugs are at three times the risk of a serious health problem or dying within a month of treatment, compared to those not given the drugs, Canadian researchers said on Monday.
The medications have been used by doctors to treat aggression in people who are not psychotic or schizophrenic, but there are risks for elderly dementia patients prescribed the drugs, according to Dr. Paula Rochon of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto, and colleagues.
"Of residents newly admitted to a nursing home, 17 percent are started on antipsychotic drugs within 100 days of their admission," often for short periods to control delirium, delusions or aggressive behavior, Rochon wrote. ...more
Elderly dementia patients prescribed antipsychotic drugs are at three times the risk of a serious health problem or dying within a month of treatment, compared to those not given the drugs, Canadian researchers said on Monday.
The medications have been used by doctors to treat aggression in people who are not psychotic or schizophrenic, but there are risks for elderly dementia patients prescribed the drugs, according to Dr. Paula Rochon of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto, and colleagues.
"Of residents newly admitted to a nursing home, 17 percent are started on antipsychotic drugs within 100 days of their admission," often for short periods to control delirium, delusions or aggressive behavior, Rochon wrote. ...more
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Canadian drugstores are losing U.S. sales
From the Newark (NJ) Star Ledger:
Anthony Iwaszko used to fill his prescriptions through mail-order pharmacies in Canada, where he found the prices for his costly hypertension and cholesterol medicines were substantially lower.
Now, the 73-year-old retired Belmar resident purchases all of his medicines in the United States.
"I stopped buying from Canada about two years ago when I was able to get the new Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage," Iwaszko said.
Only a few years ago, there was a mass movement by senior citizens to "remiport" drugs from Canada, where many brand-name medicines cost half of what they sold for at pharmacies in the United States. Canadian pharmacies were frequent advertisers in newspapers and on websites.
Today, more and more seniors like Iwaszko have given up buying their medicine from Canada. By some estimates, the flow of prescription drugs across the border has been cut in half over the past few years.
"The business certainly has decreased," said Gord Haugh, head of the Canadian International Pharmacists Association. "At the height of business about three or four years ago, we were probably approaching about a billion dollars in sales, and I think it is probably down now to between $400 million and $500 million." ...more
Anthony Iwaszko used to fill his prescriptions through mail-order pharmacies in Canada, where he found the prices for his costly hypertension and cholesterol medicines were substantially lower.
Now, the 73-year-old retired Belmar resident purchases all of his medicines in the United States.
"I stopped buying from Canada about two years ago when I was able to get the new Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage," Iwaszko said.
Only a few years ago, there was a mass movement by senior citizens to "remiport" drugs from Canada, where many brand-name medicines cost half of what they sold for at pharmacies in the United States. Canadian pharmacies were frequent advertisers in newspapers and on websites.
Today, more and more seniors like Iwaszko have given up buying their medicine from Canada. By some estimates, the flow of prescription drugs across the border has been cut in half over the past few years.
"The business certainly has decreased," said Gord Haugh, head of the Canadian International Pharmacists Association. "At the height of business about three or four years ago, we were probably approaching about a billion dollars in sales, and I think it is probably down now to between $400 million and $500 million." ...more
Pharmacists call for better salaries
From the (Nairobi, Kenya) Daily Nation:
Government pharmacists want their terms of service reviewed immediately as it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to work under the current scheme.
The scheme was last reviewed 20 years ago, the Kenya Pharmaceutical Association said in Nairobi Saturday.
Through their chairman, Mr John Sabaya, they said a pharmaceutical technologist in the public service earns a Sh15,000 basic salary which, he noted, cannot cater for their needs in the current hard economic times.
“We also want the Government to speedily review our non-practice, strenuous, hardship and risk allowances in line with the inflation rate in the country at the moment,” he said. ...more
Government pharmacists want their terms of service reviewed immediately as it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to work under the current scheme.
The scheme was last reviewed 20 years ago, the Kenya Pharmaceutical Association said in Nairobi Saturday.
Through their chairman, Mr John Sabaya, they said a pharmaceutical technologist in the public service earns a Sh15,000 basic salary which, he noted, cannot cater for their needs in the current hard economic times.
“We also want the Government to speedily review our non-practice, strenuous, hardship and risk allowances in line with the inflation rate in the country at the moment,” he said. ...more
Boots accused of selling quack medicines
From the Guardian (UK):
Boots, the high street chemist, is becoming the country's largest seller of quack medicine, according to Britain's leading scientific expert on alternative therapies.
Talking at the Hay literary festival today, Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at Exeter University, is to criticise the company for selling alternative medicines, in particular more than 50 homeopathic remedies, which are shown by clinical trials to be no more effective than sugar pills.
Boots, which has 1,500 stores across the UK, stocks 55 homeopathic therapies, 34 of which are sold under the company's own brand.
Ernst accuses the company of breaching ethical guidelines drawn up by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, by failing to tell customers that its homeopathic medicines contain no active ingredients and are ineffective in clinical trials.
"The population at large trusts Boots more than any other pharmacy, but when you look behind the smokescreen, when it comes to alternative medicines, that trust is not justified. You can buy a lot of rubbish, with covert advertising stating things that are overtly wrong. People are spending their money on stuff that doesn't work," he said. "Boots seems to be fast becoming the biggest seller of quack remedies in UK high streets." ...more
Boots, the high street chemist, is becoming the country's largest seller of quack medicine, according to Britain's leading scientific expert on alternative therapies.
Talking at the Hay literary festival today, Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at Exeter University, is to criticise the company for selling alternative medicines, in particular more than 50 homeopathic remedies, which are shown by clinical trials to be no more effective than sugar pills.
Boots, which has 1,500 stores across the UK, stocks 55 homeopathic therapies, 34 of which are sold under the company's own brand.
Ernst accuses the company of breaching ethical guidelines drawn up by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, by failing to tell customers that its homeopathic medicines contain no active ingredients and are ineffective in clinical trials.
"The population at large trusts Boots more than any other pharmacy, but when you look behind the smokescreen, when it comes to alternative medicines, that trust is not justified. You can buy a lot of rubbish, with covert advertising stating things that are overtly wrong. People are spending their money on stuff that doesn't work," he said. "Boots seems to be fast becoming the biggest seller of quack remedies in UK high streets." ...more
Critics blast new rules for natural remedies
From the Globe and Mail:
'Most of the herbal remedies for sale in Canada may soon be illegal."
"Canadian parents who give their children vitamins could face arrest."
"Federal agents will enter private property and fine mom-and-pop stores $5-million for arbitrary offences."
These are some of the questionable claims being spread online and through e-mail as part of a strident campaign led by the natural-health industry against the federal government's proposed changes to improve the quality and safety of natural health products in Canada.
One website makes the exaggerated claim that Canadians may lose the right to buy natural health products under the new law.
More than 40,000 people have joined several Facebook groups created to oppose amendments to Canada's Food and Drugs Act, known as Bill C-51. Several websites have popped up in recent weeks asking Canadians to sign petitions and call their members of Parliament to protest against the changes, which they say will ban up to 75 per cent of herbs and vitamins in Canada.
But in reality, medical experts say the changes probably won't have a major impact on the way natural health products are marketed and sold in Canada. In fact, they may finally bring accountability to a largely unregulated industry that has typically been able to market products with little proof of their effectiveness and limited safety guarantees, according to Lloyd Oppel, a physician responsible for health promotion at the British Columbia Medical Association. ...more
'Most of the herbal remedies for sale in Canada may soon be illegal."
"Canadian parents who give their children vitamins could face arrest."
"Federal agents will enter private property and fine mom-and-pop stores $5-million for arbitrary offences."
These are some of the questionable claims being spread online and through e-mail as part of a strident campaign led by the natural-health industry against the federal government's proposed changes to improve the quality and safety of natural health products in Canada.
One website makes the exaggerated claim that Canadians may lose the right to buy natural health products under the new law.
More than 40,000 people have joined several Facebook groups created to oppose amendments to Canada's Food and Drugs Act, known as Bill C-51. Several websites have popped up in recent weeks asking Canadians to sign petitions and call their members of Parliament to protest against the changes, which they say will ban up to 75 per cent of herbs and vitamins in Canada.
But in reality, medical experts say the changes probably won't have a major impact on the way natural health products are marketed and sold in Canada. In fact, they may finally bring accountability to a largely unregulated industry that has typically been able to market products with little proof of their effectiveness and limited safety guarantees, according to Lloyd Oppel, a physician responsible for health promotion at the British Columbia Medical Association. ...more
Price war threatens Dutch pharmacists
From Radio Netherlands Worldwide:
The price of some patent-free medicines is to drop considerably from June, some by as much as 80 to 90 percent. The price cuts come as a result of health insurers' "preference policy", introduced three years ago, whereby they only reimburse drugs at the lowest available price. This has led to a price war among suppliers.
When the cholesterol-reducing drug simvastatin came on sale in 2003, it cost 49 euros a packet. In January 2008 this dropped to 8 euros, and it has now fallen to just 1.25. Other commonly prescribed drugs are now between 74 and 88 percent cheaper.
Pharmaceutical productsVektis, the centre for health insurance information and standardisation, says the price cuts mean a saving of around 350 million euros for health insurers. This could in turn lead to lower premiums.
However, pharmacists throughout the Netherlands are concerned about the price reductions and claim they will lose half a billion euros in sales. The professional association of pharmacists says this will cost the average pharmacist 160,000 euros. The association argues that some of its members will be forced to close and, in the long run, others will not be able to offer the full range of drugs available. Pharmacists used to receive a bonus for dispensing a particular drug, but the insurers' preference policy put an end to the practice. ...more
The price of some patent-free medicines is to drop considerably from June, some by as much as 80 to 90 percent. The price cuts come as a result of health insurers' "preference policy", introduced three years ago, whereby they only reimburse drugs at the lowest available price. This has led to a price war among suppliers.
When the cholesterol-reducing drug simvastatin came on sale in 2003, it cost 49 euros a packet. In January 2008 this dropped to 8 euros, and it has now fallen to just 1.25. Other commonly prescribed drugs are now between 74 and 88 percent cheaper.
Pharmaceutical productsVektis, the centre for health insurance information and standardisation, says the price cuts mean a saving of around 350 million euros for health insurers. This could in turn lead to lower premiums.
However, pharmacists throughout the Netherlands are concerned about the price reductions and claim they will lose half a billion euros in sales. The professional association of pharmacists says this will cost the average pharmacist 160,000 euros. The association argues that some of its members will be forced to close and, in the long run, others will not be able to offer the full range of drugs available. Pharmacists used to receive a bonus for dispensing a particular drug, but the insurers' preference policy put an end to the practice. ...more
Smaller sized pharmacies making comeback in industry
From the Shelby (NC) Star:
For some, the hours of waiting and impersonal service often associated with big name pharmacies leads straight to the door of "mom-and-pop" pharmacies.
The small-operation pharmacies that have been making a comeback offer many of the benefits of larger pharmacy with a lot less of the hassle, said Gary Harden.
Harden has spent years behind the counter and behind the scenes at a number of pharmacies. And now, he's back in Shelby - where he started - and his new pharmacy is ready to serve the community he loves.
Shelby Drug Inc., just across from Shelby staple Alston Bridges Barbecue, has been open for little more than a week.
"We started out one or two prescriptions a day," Harden said. "We're up to about 10 now." ...more
For some, the hours of waiting and impersonal service often associated with big name pharmacies leads straight to the door of "mom-and-pop" pharmacies.
The small-operation pharmacies that have been making a comeback offer many of the benefits of larger pharmacy with a lot less of the hassle, said Gary Harden.
Harden has spent years behind the counter and behind the scenes at a number of pharmacies. And now, he's back in Shelby - where he started - and his new pharmacy is ready to serve the community he loves.
Shelby Drug Inc., just across from Shelby staple Alston Bridges Barbecue, has been open for little more than a week.
"We started out one or two prescriptions a day," Harden said. "We're up to about 10 now." ...more
Smaller pharmacies more nimble in AIDS prescription market
From the St. Louis Post Dispatch:
As a growing number of complicated and expensive medications reach patients, they typically make the journey through mail order or a physician's office rather than the local drugstore. Care for one complex illness, however, appears to be resisting this trend.
Small, niche pharmacies providing medications, advice and resources to HIV-positive and AIDS patients combine the knowledge of a specialty mail order pharmacy with the personal attention and convenience of a neighborhood drugstore.
"It's a way to take care of patients in a slightly different environment that's giving more focused care," said Glen Pietradoni, manager of HIV, AIDS and hepatitis programs for Walgreen Co. "The stores are smaller. The staff is more highly educated on the disease." ...more
As a growing number of complicated and expensive medications reach patients, they typically make the journey through mail order or a physician's office rather than the local drugstore. Care for one complex illness, however, appears to be resisting this trend.
Small, niche pharmacies providing medications, advice and resources to HIV-positive and AIDS patients combine the knowledge of a specialty mail order pharmacy with the personal attention and convenience of a neighborhood drugstore.
"It's a way to take care of patients in a slightly different environment that's giving more focused care," said Glen Pietradoni, manager of HIV, AIDS and hepatitis programs for Walgreen Co. "The stores are smaller. The staff is more highly educated on the disease." ...more
UK pharmacists' role to expand
From the Irish Medical Times:
UK proposals mean that patients could be treated for minor ailments in their local pharmacies and could even be screened there for sexually-transmitted diseases.
Pharmacists look set to have an increased role in patient care in England, as the UK Government has announced plans to extend the role of pharmacies there in dealing with minor illnesses. It plans to allow pharmacists to prescribe for such conditions, affording the patient more convenience and what might often amount to faster treatment.
Click here
A government White Paper – ‘Building on Strengths, Delivering the Future’ — details how pharmacists will complement the work of GPs in promoting health, preventing sickness and providing care for patients that is “more personal and responsive to individual needs”.
UK Health Minister Ben Bradshaw stressed that the proposals are not about pharmacists taking over the work of GPs: “It’s about complementing them, taking pressure off GPs and enabling them to spend more time with those patients who really need it.” ...more
UK proposals mean that patients could be treated for minor ailments in their local pharmacies and could even be screened there for sexually-transmitted diseases.
Pharmacists look set to have an increased role in patient care in England, as the UK Government has announced plans to extend the role of pharmacies there in dealing with minor illnesses. It plans to allow pharmacists to prescribe for such conditions, affording the patient more convenience and what might often amount to faster treatment.
Click here
A government White Paper – ‘Building on Strengths, Delivering the Future’ — details how pharmacists will complement the work of GPs in promoting health, preventing sickness and providing care for patients that is “more personal and responsive to individual needs”.
UK Health Minister Ben Bradshaw stressed that the proposals are not about pharmacists taking over the work of GPs: “It’s about complementing them, taking pressure off GPs and enabling them to spend more time with those patients who really need it.” ...more
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Increasing pharmacists' powers raises concerns
From the Globe and Mail:
Getting a prescription refilled or changed in Canada is set to become much easier, but the move to expand the powers of pharmacists is sparking controversy in the country's medical community.
New Brunswick will become one of the first provinces to move forward with legislation to significantly boost the ability of pharmacists to play a greater role in patient prescriptions.
Under proposed changes announced this week, pharmacists would not only provide refills without having to check with the doctor, but could also alter a patient's prescription or assign new medications for minor conditions.
Similar rules are already in place in Alberta and other provinces are in various stages of enhancing the role of pharmacists.
These moves will provide greater convenience to Canadians, who may not have immediate access to a doctor for a new prescription, allow pharmacists to better monitor a patient's response to treatment, and reduce the burden on overworked doctor's offices, said Janet Cooper, senior director of professional affairs at the Canadian Pharmacists Association. ...more
Getting a prescription refilled or changed in Canada is set to become much easier, but the move to expand the powers of pharmacists is sparking controversy in the country's medical community.
New Brunswick will become one of the first provinces to move forward with legislation to significantly boost the ability of pharmacists to play a greater role in patient prescriptions.
Under proposed changes announced this week, pharmacists would not only provide refills without having to check with the doctor, but could also alter a patient's prescription or assign new medications for minor conditions.
Similar rules are already in place in Alberta and other provinces are in various stages of enhancing the role of pharmacists.
These moves will provide greater convenience to Canadians, who may not have immediate access to a doctor for a new prescription, allow pharmacists to better monitor a patient's response to treatment, and reduce the burden on overworked doctor's offices, said Janet Cooper, senior director of professional affairs at the Canadian Pharmacists Association. ...more
Generic drug prices inflated, committee reports
From the Vancouver Sun:
Inflated prices on generic prescription drugs mean B.C.'s Pharmacare program and drug consumers are paying hundreds of millions of dollars more for medications than they should be each year, says former auditor-general George Morfitt, a member of a committee asked by the provincial government to identify drug funding and approval reforms.
Recommendations of The Report of the Pharmaceutical Task Force were made public Wednesday.
"Canadian prices [on non-brand name, off-patent drugs] are about 40 per cent too high compared [with] other countries," Morfitt said in an interview, referring to the fact that pharmacies receive a 30- to 40-per-cent rebate on bulk purchases of drugs from manufacturers.
However, they don't bother passing on those savings to consumers and Pharmacare.
"Pharmacare is paying artificially high prices," Morfitt said after the
Health Minister George Abbott said the government accepts all the recommendations of the task force and agrees that while British Columbians spend more than $1 billion annually on pharmaceutical products, there are clearly cost savings which have yet to be attained. ...more
Inflated prices on generic prescription drugs mean B.C.'s Pharmacare program and drug consumers are paying hundreds of millions of dollars more for medications than they should be each year, says former auditor-general George Morfitt, a member of a committee asked by the provincial government to identify drug funding and approval reforms.
Recommendations of The Report of the Pharmaceutical Task Force were made public Wednesday.
"Canadian prices [on non-brand name, off-patent drugs] are about 40 per cent too high compared [with] other countries," Morfitt said in an interview, referring to the fact that pharmacies receive a 30- to 40-per-cent rebate on bulk purchases of drugs from manufacturers.
However, they don't bother passing on those savings to consumers and Pharmacare.
"Pharmacare is paying artificially high prices," Morfitt said after the
Health Minister George Abbott said the government accepts all the recommendations of the task force and agrees that while British Columbians spend more than $1 billion annually on pharmaceutical products, there are clearly cost savings which have yet to be attained. ...more
Pharmacists to ease strain on health care
From the Fredericton (NB) Daily Gleaner:
It's going to get a lot easier to get your prescription refilled this fall.
A private members bill amending the Pharmacy Act was introduced in the legislature Tuesday.
Starting Oct. 20, pharmacists will be able to refill prescriptions for chronic conditions.
New Brunswick Pharmaceutical Society registrar Bill Veniot said the change will improve access to health care for New Brunswickers.
"We use the example of a patient who has been on blood pressure medication for 10 years (and) he has run out of his medication before he is able to see his doctor," said Veniot. ...more
It's going to get a lot easier to get your prescription refilled this fall.
A private members bill amending the Pharmacy Act was introduced in the legislature Tuesday.
Starting Oct. 20, pharmacists will be able to refill prescriptions for chronic conditions.
New Brunswick Pharmaceutical Society registrar Bill Veniot said the change will improve access to health care for New Brunswickers.
"We use the example of a patient who has been on blood pressure medication for 10 years (and) he has run out of his medication before he is able to see his doctor," said Veniot. ...more
Concerns raised about proposed bill
From the Toronto Star:
Every week, Daniel Chiang, a nutritionist and clinic owner at the Inspired Life Health Centre on Danforth Ave., treats more than a dozen patients, offering them "alternative medicine options" to help heal ailments ranging from the flu to digestive problems.
Sometimes, he suggests home remedies; other times it may be a nutritional supplement. He has always been able to recommend or suggest as he chooses. But now he worries this could change with Bill C-51, legislation – making its way through Parliament – that will modernize the Food and Drugs Act for the first time in over 50 years.
"There is a lot of uncertainty around the bill and how it will impact access to natural health products. No one seems to be quite sure," Chiang said. The confusion has generated controversy. Earlier this month, hundreds of people turned up at rallies across the country to protest the bill. ...more
Every week, Daniel Chiang, a nutritionist and clinic owner at the Inspired Life Health Centre on Danforth Ave., treats more than a dozen patients, offering them "alternative medicine options" to help heal ailments ranging from the flu to digestive problems.
Sometimes, he suggests home remedies; other times it may be a nutritional supplement. He has always been able to recommend or suggest as he chooses. But now he worries this could change with Bill C-51, legislation – making its way through Parliament – that will modernize the Food and Drugs Act for the first time in over 50 years.
"There is a lot of uncertainty around the bill and how it will impact access to natural health products. No one seems to be quite sure," Chiang said. The confusion has generated controversy. Earlier this month, hundreds of people turned up at rallies across the country to protest the bill. ...more
Prostate prevention drug seen in positive new light
From CBC News:
A drug that helps prevent prostate cancer but was once seen as risky is now being painted in a new light.
Finasteride, which belongs to a class of drugs called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, decreases the body's production of androgen testosterone, a male hormone that causes the prostate to enlarge. In a 2003 study of 18,822 men, it was found to reduce a man's chance of getting prostate cancer by 25 per cent.
However, initially, there were concerns that when men taking the drug developed prostate cancer, the tumours were more advanced than in men with the disease who were not on the drug.
That thinking has changed following a comprehesive re-evaluation of the study. Two studies released last week that will be published in the June issue of Cancer Prevention Research shed new light on finasteride.
"We found that the drug actually worked to reduce the incidence of prostate cancer and more importantly, did not increase the incidence of high-grade cancer," Dr. Steven Kaplan, associate professor of urology at Weill Cornell Medical College, told CBC News. ...more
A drug that helps prevent prostate cancer but was once seen as risky is now being painted in a new light.
Finasteride, which belongs to a class of drugs called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, decreases the body's production of androgen testosterone, a male hormone that causes the prostate to enlarge. In a 2003 study of 18,822 men, it was found to reduce a man's chance of getting prostate cancer by 25 per cent.
However, initially, there were concerns that when men taking the drug developed prostate cancer, the tumours were more advanced than in men with the disease who were not on the drug.
That thinking has changed following a comprehesive re-evaluation of the study. Two studies released last week that will be published in the June issue of Cancer Prevention Research shed new light on finasteride.
"We found that the drug actually worked to reduce the incidence of prostate cancer and more importantly, did not increase the incidence of high-grade cancer," Dr. Steven Kaplan, associate professor of urology at Weill Cornell Medical College, told CBC News. ...more
Faster, cheaper, better: B.C. health minister promises pharmaceutical overhaul
From the Vancouver Sun:
The provincial government is promising faster drug-approval times and better access to cheaper generic drugs at the pharmacy counter once the recommendations of the Pharmaceutical task force become reality.
Health Minister George Abbott said British Columbians spend, on average, about $1 billion annually on pharmaceuticals.
"Are we getting the best deal? I think not. I think that it's pretty clear particularly in the area of the generics, that we are not getting a good deal," he said in an interview.
Abbott made the comments following an announcement Wednesday that the government would be accepting all the recommendations put forward by the Pharmaceutical task force. ...more
The provincial government is promising faster drug-approval times and better access to cheaper generic drugs at the pharmacy counter once the recommendations of the Pharmaceutical task force become reality.
Health Minister George Abbott said British Columbians spend, on average, about $1 billion annually on pharmaceuticals.
"Are we getting the best deal? I think not. I think that it's pretty clear particularly in the area of the generics, that we are not getting a good deal," he said in an interview.
Abbott made the comments following an announcement Wednesday that the government would be accepting all the recommendations put forward by the Pharmaceutical task force. ...more
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Pharmacists soon to prescribe drugs
I find it interesting that the New Brunswick Medical Society is in favour of pharmacist prescribing, while in Alberta the Alberta Medical Association is mostly against the concept. However, it doesn't sound that the N.B. plan is quite as far-reaching as the initial prescribing program that has started in Alberta.
From the Moncton (NB) Times & Transcript:
New Brunswick pharmacists are prescribing their own medicine to help solve the province's overburdened health-care system.
The New Brunswick Pharmaceutical Society has drafted a private members' bill, which will give pharmacists the power to renew, extend, or alter prescriptions and diagnose "minor" and "chronic" conditions and ailments.
The Liberal government tabled the bill and supported it yesterday in the legislature.
Bill Veniot, registrar of the New Brunswick Pharmaceutical Society, called the legislation a step forward for health care in the province, but said pharmacists would not be taking on the work of doctors.
"This is about greater access to pharmacists, greater access to necessary services. It is about the pharmacist being able to work for their full scope of practice."
Health Minister Mike Murphy has echoed the message of pharmacists, who believe they can help cut down on lineups at hospitals and make medications more accessible to New Brunswickers.
"People going to the hospital to get renewals on prescriptions, that won't be happening anymore. We won't be clogging up the waiting areas for that," says Dennis Abud, president of the New Brunswick Pharmacists' Association. ...more
EA awash in bogus malaria medicine, says study
From the (Nairobi, Kenya) East African:
Roughly one-third of the malaria drugs sold at chemists in East Africa’s capital cities are ineffective, a new study has foundTests on a total of 195 packs of malaria medicines bought in Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Kigali, Nairobi and two West African cities showed that 35 per cent either lacked sufficient amounts of active ingredients or did not dissolve quickly enough to work.
The incidence of ineffective drugs was highest in Kenya, with 38 per cent of the 42 packets purchased in Nairobi found to be sub-standard.
Tanzania’s rate was lowest, at 32 per cent, followed by Rwanda, a 33 per cent and Uganda, at 35 per cent.The malaria drugs most likely to fail quality tests were those manufactured in Africa, researchers said.
Nearly half of those medicines were found to be deficient, compared with 24 per cent of drugs of European origin.
The comparative weakness of regulatory systems in Africa may account for the difference, researchers suggest.They also report that 33 per cent of the tested packets contained only artemisinin, an anti-malarial agent produced in China and regarded as an especially promising treatment. ...more
Roughly one-third of the malaria drugs sold at chemists in East Africa’s capital cities are ineffective, a new study has foundTests on a total of 195 packs of malaria medicines bought in Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Kigali, Nairobi and two West African cities showed that 35 per cent either lacked sufficient amounts of active ingredients or did not dissolve quickly enough to work.
The incidence of ineffective drugs was highest in Kenya, with 38 per cent of the 42 packets purchased in Nairobi found to be sub-standard.
Tanzania’s rate was lowest, at 32 per cent, followed by Rwanda, a 33 per cent and Uganda, at 35 per cent.The malaria drugs most likely to fail quality tests were those manufactured in Africa, researchers said.
Nearly half of those medicines were found to be deficient, compared with 24 per cent of drugs of European origin.
The comparative weakness of regulatory systems in Africa may account for the difference, researchers suggest.They also report that 33 per cent of the tested packets contained only artemisinin, an anti-malarial agent produced in China and regarded as an especially promising treatment. ...more
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