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Written by Toby Roberts
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Thursday, 02 July 2009 00:00 |
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CVS pharmacies agreed to a settlement with the state of California that is designed to ensure that they immediately cease the sale of items past their expiration dates. They also agreed to safeguarding procedures after pharmacies were identified as not properly disposing of patient information. A 2008 investigation by California found several CVS stores selling expired baby formula, baby foods, dairy products, and over the counter medications. In some cases the items were still for sale as many as 11 months past their expiration dates. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 30 June 2009 19:41 )
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Written by Toby Roberts
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Tuesday, 30 June 2009 19:15 |
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The FDA announced the recent approval of the generic form of the so called “Morning After Pill” for use on women under the age of 18. The drug, Levonorgestrel, will now be available by prescription only in .75mg tablets.
The new generic will only be available to women over the age of 18. The pill itself is used only as an emergency contraceptive (within 72 hours) and will not terminate existing pregnancies.
The original Plan B has been approved in the United States since 1999 and has been available to women over the age of 18 without a prescription since 2006. |
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Written by Toby Roberts
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Monday, 22 June 2009 00:00 |
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On Thursday, June 18, Cheri Garvin, RPh, CEO of Leesburg Pharmacy testified before Congress on the subject of safe disposal of prescription drugs. Garvin began by describing the National Community Pharmacy Association’s model for safe drug disposal and the tools they have made available to pharmacists to implement the program.
She stressed the importance of convenience for consumers by offering multiple collection points as well as the possibility of mail order returns for medications. Current laws prohibit postal carriers from handling controlled substances so legal changes would have to be made to make mail returns feasible.
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Written by Toby Roberts
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Friday, 19 June 2009 18:05 |
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As a continuation of the recent story about the struggle to maintain funding for the California Poison Control System, it seems that pharmacists in California have won a stay of execution from the financially troubled state.
After issuing pleas to pharmacists and pharmacy students throughout the state to fight for the continuance of the system, the CPCS is happy to announce that it has won back 50% of its funding from the current state budget. The arguments for the retention of the hotline changed three votes which swayed the committee to offer the system half of its $5.8 million in state funds.
Representatives from the CPCS are thrilled with the results which are expected to keep the system operational until early 2010. They will continue to work to collect the rest of the funding necessary to keep the system going.
The CPCS handles approximately 900 calls per day and is estimated to save the state around $70 million in emergency room visits and 911 calls.
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Written by Toby Roberts
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Tuesday, 16 June 2009 18:58 |
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The California Pharmacists Association, as well as eight California pharmacy schools, are teaming up to fight on behalf of the suddenly threatened California State Poison Control System (CSPCS).
The system, which currently offers advice to parents, teachers, 911 operators, and other California residents and professionals in all manner of potential poisoning cases, is in danger of becoming another casualty of California’s increasingly serious budget shortfalls.
The state cost for the CSPCS is currently near $5.9 million. The state funds provide the foundation for running the system as well as the solicitation of matching federal and private funds that have kept poison control in operation.
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