Pharmacy News: European drug deal could cost Canada $2.8 billion
European drug deal could cost Canada $2.8 billion
Europe’s massive pharmaceutical industry, feeling the squeeze as governments around the world try to contain health care spending, sees potentially lucrative new horizons in countries such as Canada and India. That’s why the industry has lobbied the European Union to seek expanded patent protection for brand-name drugs in ongoing free-trade negotiations with both countries. If successful, that effort would cost Canada’s health care system $2.8 billion a year, according to a critical report released Monday that was funded by the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association. “Canada would have the most extensive structural protection of innovative drugs of any country in the world,” wrote the authors, University of Calgary economist Aidan Hollis and Paul Grootendorst, of the University of Toronto’s faculty of pharmacy. “Payers -consumers, businesses, unions and government insurers -would face substantially higher drug costs as exclusivity is extended on topselling prescription drugs.” Ontario would bear the brunt, ith $1.2 billion in extra costs, ccording to the study. Quebec is next at $773 million, followed by B.C. at $249 million and Alberta at $212 million
Pharma staff get clean bill
A HIGH-ranking UAE Ministry of Health (MoH) official has given a passing grade for the professionalism of pharmaceutical industry practitioners across the country. However, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practice and License Dr Amin Hussain Al Amiri, on Tuesday morning, also admonished them to keep up and give “respect to the profession and white gown,” especially as they are doctors themselves. “They are perfectly well. They are following guidelines,” Al Amiri told The Gulf Today, when he met the press at the Sharjah Cultural Palace. In his opening statement, Al Amiri expressed disappointment that out of the 1,432 private pharmacies, nine pharmaceutical factories and 199 medical stores throughout the UAE, attendees were less than the expected of more than 1,000 participants, because the government office had not been updated with contact details. This reporter asked him of the rating he would give the group, particularly that of the pharmacists and their staff, since he cited violations committed by some. “Yes, violations could happen that is why we are meeting with them and will be meeting with them again so we can (jointly strategise the best for all of us here in the UAE),” said Al Amiri, who then related two cases of violations he himself was a witness of. The first case was about one pharmacy employee in Sharjah, who he saw giving a bagful of medicines to three Asians without asking for the prescription and billing them without the proper receipt. Al Amiri then pose as a buyer of Tamiflu “at that time when there was a swine flu threat.” Just the same, he was given the drug even though he did not present a prescription, and was billed Dhs175 without being provided with a proper receipt. Probing, he asked for the staff’s professional identification card. The staff member gave the card, which, Al Amiri noted, is another violation since one must only do so with proper authorities. Next thing that Al Amiri did was disclose his real identity as an MoH official and was surprised when the staff informed him that he was a porter and that the pharmacist was out for “kadak chai” (strong tea). “I called up the person concerned to close down the shop immediately,” he said. He added that in another case, he also had one pharmacy, which was owned by an Emirati and a family friend, shut down because he found that the pharmacists had not been wearing their white gowns. “I have great respect for the white gown. Respect the profession. You are doctors,” he said. In the course of the interaction, Al Amiri mentioned companies in free zones and elsewhere in the country being closed down, as they were confirmed to be the source of locally sold and re-exported counterfeit drugs. One was located at a free zone where the owner had his brothers in Saudi Arabia and Egypt jailed for the same offence of distributing fake drugs locally and regionally. His message to his audience was “zero tolerance” on all violations and circumvention of laws. Al Amiri assured the sector of a strong support from the government. Yet, he stressed that individuals working in the sector must also do their share in ensuring that they help improve the quality of life of the 7.56 million UAE residents through their astuteness in the delivery of professional service of updated registered, approved and genuine medicines. Al Amiri said the UAE serves as the hub of all medical supplies to the Middle East and North Africa and so industry players must be conscious of and strictly follow pharmaceutical rules and regulations. At stake is the country’s reputation, he emphasised. Meanwhile, Al Amiri said that starting March 1, expatriates can take their exams for the pharmacy licence to practise in the UAE through electronic smart technologies anywhere they are in the world.
Indian pharmaceutical grads face ‘changing employment landscape
Indian pharmaceutical graduate skills may need to change in the near future as the industry adapts to ongoing changes. Indian online pharmacy – The quality of training received by those aiming for careers in the sector will be key as the industry adapts to the changing flexible benefits and employment strategy challenges it faces. Rob Darracott, chief executive of the industry trade association Pharmacy Voice, explained that one of the greatest challenges faced by the industry is the UK immigration cap, which is due to be introduced in April. He noted: “Pharmacist graduate numbers continue to increase year on year … but the matching of supply and demand is subject to continuing shifts. “Our ambitions for community pharmacy, and the services it will deliver in the future, means that graduate skills will continue to change over time.” UK business secretary Vince Cable last month sought to reassure Indian graduates about the impact of the immigration cap on their ability to find jobs in the country. On a trade mission to the country, he explained that the cap will not apply to intra-company transfers from overseas.