PHARMACEUTICAL industry, DRUG packaging, DRUG labeling
Abstract
This section offers news briefs on the pharmaceutical industry. It presents highlights from the September 2011 issue of Medsafe New Zealand's "Presciber Update." Batches of busulfan and bortezomib will be recalled in Great Britain due to a theoretical risk of contamination, according to an alert from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will develop a consultation paper on the labelling and packaging of medicines.
All codeine-containing medicines will be reclassified as prescription medicines from 5 November 2020, says New Zealand's Medsafe. At a Medicines Classification Committee (MCC) meeting held last month (10 October), an information paper was presented and after a period of consultation and stakeholder feedback, it was recommended that " I all codeine-containing medicines should be classified as prescription medicines i ", said Medsafe. [Extracted from the article]
PHARMACEUTICAL industry, PHARMACEUTICAL industry suppliers, DRUGS
Abstract
The article cites claims of New Zealand's pharmaceutical management agency PHARMAC that promoting competition among suppliers can be the key to improve patent's access to high-cost drugs for rare conditions.
CARDIOVASCULAR agents, DRUG therapy for heart diseases, CARDIOVASCULAR diseases
Abstract
Discusses the reasons for and against the development of a polypill for cardiovascular disease prevention. Remarks from Dr. Natasha Rafter and Professor Alistair Woodward from the University of Auckland, New Zealand about polypill; Benefit of a polypill; Argument against the polypill.
MEDICAL care, MEDICAL equipment industry, DRUGS, HIV
Abstract
This section offers health regulatory and healthcare news briefs. "Visiongain" predicts that the value of India's medical device market will increase to 11 U.S. billion dollars by 2023 from 3 billion U.S. dollars in 2011. The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) released a report recommending the improvement of Canada's drug review process to promote greater drug access. New Zealand's Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC) approved funding of two HIV combination therapies.
The article discusses research on pharmacists in New Zealand backing off-prescription availability of oseltamivir, which references the study "Is Non-Prescription Oseltamivir Availability Under Strict Criteria Workable? A Qualitative Study in New Zealand," by N. Gauld et al, published in the November 3, 2010 issue of the "Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy."