Big pharmaceutical firms agree to generic drugs for Rwanda

AFP – Three pharmaceutical firms said Monday they support continued efforts by a Canadian generic drug maker to distribute cheaper versions of their patented HIV/AIDS medicines in Rwanda.

GlaxoSmithKline and the Canadian subsidiaries of Shire and Boehringer Ingelheim had two years ago authorized Canadian generic drug maker Apotex to export to Rwanda a “fixed dose triple combination antiretroviral medicine” containing drugs over which each held patent rights in Canada. Read more

U.S. senators urge probe into CVS drug practices

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Five U.S. senators have written to antitrust regulators asking the agency to look into allegations that CVS inappropriately used its pharmacy benefits business to win clients and squeeze smaller competitors. Other groups have already complained to the Federal Trade Commission about the CVS drugstore chain's 2007 purchase of Caremark, which specialized in pharmacy benefits, saying that the merger has meant higher prices for consumers in some cases. Read more

NAACP praises white pharmacist’s murder charge in death of black would-be robber

Earlier, we shared a story with you of a Pharmacists who shot and killed a would-be robber, who now faces a murder charge.

The plot now thickens as more details become published on-line. The NAACP is praising the DA for pressing charges, in a case where the Pharmacist was white, and the attempted robber is a young black man. Read more

Pharmacist who shot robber faces Murder case

(Oklahoma) An Oklahoma Pharmacist, Jerome Ersland, is out on bail today after being arrested and charged with first-degree homicide in the May 19th shooting of “would-be robber” Antwun Parker, 16.

Prosecutors said Parker was on the floor in the pharmacy, unconscious and unarmed after being shot once by the pharmacist, and then shot him five more times. Read more

Wisconsin to force Pharmacists to dispense contraceptives

Wisconsin’s budget committee passed a measure that would force pharmacies to dispense prescribed contraceptives. The budget bill states a provision that says a pharmacy must have someone on duty who is willing to dispense the contraceptives.

What does this mean to a rural independent pharmacy that can’t afford the payroll of two pharmacists? Would there be a question in the interview process interrogating them about their religious beliefs?

Experts: Medication Errors Could Be Cut

(HealthDay News/Forbes.com) Two reports show promise of computers, pharmacists for proper prescribing.

Medication errors and adverse drug reactions cost lives and dollars each year in the United States, but two new reports suggest ways hospitals and pharmacists can work to reduce these mistakes. Read more

Iowa judge ask pharmacy board to look at marijuana

(AP, kttc.com Des Moines) – A Polk County judge says a state pharmacy board must consider whether marijuana has accepted medical uses.

Thursday’s ruling Judge Joel Novak doesn’t legalize medical marijuana in Iowa, but it requires the Iowa Board of Pharmacy to consider whether it’s properly classified as a Schedule I substance. Read more

Plan B available at the Pharmacy to women 17 and older

(wowOwow.com, fda.gov) A judge has ordered the Food and Drug Administration to allow Plan B to be sold without prescriptions to girls as young as 17. A press release by the FDA states that the morning-after pill, Plan B, will be available for over-the-counter purchase within the next 30 days. The statement released reads: Read more

Florida pharmacy says it wrongly prepped horse meds before match

(CNN) — A veterinary pharmacy in Florida acknowledged Thursday that it incorrectly prepared medication used to treat 21 horses who all died around the time of an international polo match last weekend. Read more

Congress considers “Protect Your Pharmacy Week”

(Drug Topics) A U.S. House of Representatives committee will consider a bill designating April 13 through April 17 “Protect Your Pharmacy Week.”

House Resolution 326, sponsored by Rep. Michael McMahon (D-NY), recognizes “the growing trend of crimes against retail pharmacies and the need for pharmacists in all practice settings to take steps to improve pharmacy safety and security.” Read more

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