Regulatory

GPs warned they could face legal issues if they ‘ignore’ pharmacists

GPs have been urged to “not ignore” requests from online pharmacies to disclose patient information when weight loss drugs are being prescribed to avoid becoming “vulnerable to criticism and medico-legal process”, the Medical Defence Union (MDU) has said.

‘Disappointing’ new online pharmacy rules do ‘not go far enough’ warns PDA

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has warned that newly updated online pharmacy rules “could still introduce significant risk”, after representatives for the largest pharmacies said that no additional regulations were needed.

PSNI moots plans to scrap ‘historic’ automatic overseas recognition

The Northern Irish (NI) pharmacy regulator has proposed removing the “blanket” recognition currently on offer to pharmacists from “a number of countries” wishing to register with it, alongside plans to update its online pharmacy standards.

New online pharmacy regs ‘effective immediately’ amid weight loss risks

Online pharmacies “cannot” prescribe based on online questionnaires alone and must “independently verify” patients’ weight and height before prescribing weight loss drugs, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has announced.

GPhC warns professor for asking student to ‘view a film together’

An assistant professor has been warned for “entirely inappropriate” conduct, including instant messaging a student exam marks early and asking them to watch a movie with him.

GPhC greenlights controversial education and inspection reforms

The pharmacy regulator has revealed that it will go forward with some changes to pharmacy education quality checks, despite “long-standing concerns” raised during its consultation.

‘Challenging period’: PSNI mulls fee rise as it doubles president’s pay

The Northern Irish pharmacy regulator has revealed proposals for a fee rise, having made a pre-tax loss of almost £200,000.

Wegovy: Ten deaths linked to weight loss injections, says MHRA

The medicines watchdog has received reports of some 10 deaths “with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) indicated for weight management” such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, C+D can reveal.

CQC to ‘pick up’ regulation of pharmacists prescribing from home

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is set to fill the “legal loophole” that currently leaves pharmacist-owned-businesses that are run from unregistered premises completely unregulated, the pharmacy regulator has said.