Latest news with #OlivierPicard
Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Anyone with hay fever told don't take Kenalog over safety concerns
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said people should not buy Kenalog, which can be advertised on social media sites or by salons and beauty clinics The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has issued a warning against purchasing Kenalog, a drug that is often advertised on social media platforms and by beauty salons and clinics. There are growing concerns that many people are resorting to this drug after discovering it online, despite serious safety issues and the fact that it's not licensed by the NHS. The NPA, which represents over 6,000 independent community pharmacies, has noted an increase in enquiries about Kenalog from healthcare professionals. The organisation is worried that medication procured from unregulated sellers could be counterfeit and pose a significant risk to patient safety. The NHS no longer prescribes or administers Kenalog for hay fever, as their guidelines have determined that the potential risks outweigh the benefits of the treatment. Kenalog injections function by temporarily suppressing the immune system. The injection contains a steroid to reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms, reports Surrey Live. However, this treatment is not suitable for individuals with mild hay fever symptoms, as it may weaken the immune system, making patients more susceptible to other infections, such as flu, chickenpox, and shingles. Known side effects of the drug include elevated blood pressure, dizziness, severe abdominal pain, depression and mood swings. In the UK, Kenalog is a prescription-only medicine and is not licensed for the treatment of hay fever. The product contains triamcinolone acetonide, a steroid injection licensed for treating conditions such as arthritis but not for hay fever. A joint enforcement notice regarding the advertisement of Kenalog injections was published in 2022 by the MHRA and CAP, instructing all entities that offer Kenalog for hay fever to stop advertising it on social media and their websites. NPA revealed that a proportion of the medication available online are bogus or do not meet UK safety and quality standards, or could be replaced with other drugs. Based on a snapshot survey of more than 350 pharmacies, NPA found 45% have had recent inquiries about using Kenalog for hay fever, while 96% reported a notable surge in patients seeking help for hay fever symptoms since early April. Olivier Picard, NPA chairman, said: "We know that hay fever season is well and truly upon us and as these findings show, pharmacies are reporting increased numbers of patients visiting them to help treat their symptoms. "Kenalog is not licensed in the UK for the treatment of hay fever and we are clear that patients should not seek it online or request it from their community pharmacy. "We're urging people to avoid using unlicensed treatments, which could pose a serious risk to their health, and instead speak with their pharmacist about other options for managing hay fever symptoms. "Pharmacists are well placed to provide safe licensed alternatives, such as antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays. "Medication from unregulated sellers could be fake, swapped for an alternative medication and not meet rigorous safety standards we have in the UK. "Instead, patients experiencing hay fever should visit their local pharmacy on their doorstep, who can quickly and safely provide treatments to relieve their symptoms. "If people are unsure about medication bought online, they should check with their pharmacist." The NPA is also calling for regulators to reinstate rules that necessitate a public list of regulated online UK medicine sellers. These requirements were part of previous EU regulations but were discarded when the UK exited the EU. The NPA contends that patients should be able to easily identify a regulated online pharmacy and steer clear of sellers who are not regulated in the UK. Mr Picard believes that reinstating the previous rules would "provide a helpful tool for patients to understand how to find a regulated, safe online pharmacy".
Scottish Sun
16-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
GPs beg patients to stop asking for fat jabs as they prepare to start Mounjaro national rollout
FAMILY doctors are pleading with patients to stop asking for fat jabs as they prepare to start a Mounjaro national rollout. NHS GPs will be able to prescribe the tirzepatide drug for weight loss from next Monday. Despite soaring demand for jabs, the NHS currently only prescribes Ozempic — primarily for type 2 diabetes patients. Experts warn only 220,000 people are likely to get jabs by 2028. Surgeries have posted online warnings. Crayford Town Surgery in Kent said: 'We do not prescribe weight loss jabs so please do not ask.' Fairhill Medical Practice in Kingston, South West London said: 'Once we are able to prescribe, they will be offered to those with the highest medical need only.' Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: 'NHS provision won't meet demand straight away. 'In reality, many GPs lack the bandwidth to deliver the level of support needed. 'We expect that many people will continue seeking it privately.' Highfield Surgery in Blackpool said: 'We are currently receiving a significant increase in the numbers of patients requesting help with weight management. 'A lot of these requests seem to stem from the current interest and information in mainstream or social media regarding the use of GLP-1 injections. 'Currently GPs are unable to prescribe these injections.' 1 Family doctors are pleading with patients to stop asking for fat jabs as they prepare to start a Mounjaro national rollout Credit: Alamy
North Wales Live
02-06-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
Cancer patients hit by key drug shortage
Patients battling cancer are facing severe difficulties due to a dire lack of the essential medication Creon which over 60,000 UK patients rely on. The shortage has prompted some people to only eat once a day as they ration their supplies, according to warnings from pharmacists. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said those suffering from pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, and chronic pancreatitis are affected by this shortage and some are travelling over 30 miles in desperate search of the medication. Creon serves as a vital pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (Pert) that helps patients properly digest food and absorb its nutrients. Recent data from an NPA survey of 300 pharmacies revealed a startling 96% are experiencing issues stocking Creon, with 89% also saying they've struggled to provide alternative Pert treatments. Patient hardships reported include cases where individuals have resorted to consuming only one meal a day to make their supply of Creon last longer, as well as people going without medication or travelling across multiple pharmacies to find some. A pharmacist has expressed their concern, labelling this the "worst stock shortage" ever encountered in their profession. In response, the Government has decided to extend the serious shortage protocols (SSP) for Creon up until November. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here. These rules allow pharmacists to dispense a smaller number of available Creon capsules without requiring patients to go back to their GP for a renewed prescription. The NPA survey also discovered that a significant 81% of pharmacies believe the current procedures for managing the shortage of Creon fall short of what is needed. The study revealed that pharmacists are still having to redirect patients back for new prescriptions for an alternative Pert product, or an unlicensed Creon product. Olivier Picard, chairman of the NPA, said: "Pharmacies are at the sharp end of medicine shortages, spending hours hunting stock and supporting frustrated and concerned patients. "It simply cannot be right that in the 21st century patients are skipping meals in order to ration their medication. "Although we recognise this situation is complex and not the fault of the Government, it's important they convene a taskforce and a national action plan to tackle this particular shortage given its impact on patients. Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, head of influencing and health improvement at Pancreatic Cancer UK, added: "Thousands of people affected by pancreatic cancer rely on taking Pert tablets every time they eat simply to digest their food and absorb nutrients – something most of us take for granted. "It's totally unacceptable that they are still taking desperate measures which puts their health, wellbeing and their eligibility for treatment at risk. "For over a year, we have been raising concerns with Department of Health and Social Care officials and Pert suppliers, urging them to prioritise solutions that reduce the impact on patients. "But despite these conversations, progress has been far too slow and patients continue to pay the price. The situation is unacceptable and it demands immediate action." A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We know how frustrating and distressing medicine supply issues can be for patients and the clinicians caring for them. "The European-wide supply issues with Creon are caused by a limited availability of raw ingredients and manufacturing capacity constraints. We are working closely with industry and the NHS to mitigate the impact on patients and resolve the issues as quickly as possible."
The Guardian
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
UK shortage of critical drug forcing pancreatic cancer patients to skip meals
People with pancreatic cancer are eating only one meal a day because of an acute shortage of a drug that helps them digest their food. Patients with cystic fibrosis and pancreatitis are also affected by the widespread scarcity of Creon, a form of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). People who rely on the drug have also been taking reduced doses to conserve their supplies and travelling more than 30 miles from their home to find it, pharmacists revealed today. Thousands of people with pancreatic cancer need to take PERT tablets and those hit by the shortage are suffering 'distress and frustration', the charity Pancreatic Cancer UK said. The difficulties the Creon shortage is causing patients emerged today in a survey of 300 pharmacies undertaken by the National Pharmacy Association. Almost all – 96% – are struggling to get enough of the medication to meet demand. 'As this distressing survey shows, ongoing supply problems with Creon have had a profound effect on the patients who depend on it to survive and lead a normal life', said Olivier Picard, the chair of the NPA. 'It simply cannot be right that in the 21st-century patients are skipping meals in order to ration their medication. 'Medicine shortages not only cause huge inconvenience but can risk serious patient safety issues, particularly in the case of PERTs, including Creon,' he added. Pancreatic cancer patients who either do not take a PERT or take too small a dose of it can become too sick to have surgery, which is the only potentially curative treatment for the condition, the NPA explained. They may also be less able to withstand the rigours of having chemotherapy and struggle to manage the symptoms of their condition, which can affect their quality of life. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said that the scarcity of Creon in the UK is part of a Europe-wide shortage linked to a lack of the ingredients used to make it and 'manufacturing capacity constraints'. Creon has been in short supply for at least a year. The DHSC last week extended the two serious shortage protocols that have already been in place for it since May last year, covering 10,000 and 25,000 capsule formulations of Creon, until 21 November this year. The protocols are official notifications of a medication being hard to obtain, which allow pharmacists to give patients a smaller quantity of a drug than they usually receive. Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, head of influencing and health improvement at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: 'These deeply worrying findings echo the distress and frustration we are hearing from patients and their loved ones across the UK. 'Thousands of people affected by pancreatic cancer rely on taking PERT tablets every time they eat simply to digest their food and absorb nutrients, something most of us take for granted. 'It's totally unacceptable that they are taking desperate measures which put their health, wellbeing and their eligibility for treatment at risk,' he added. One pharmacist said the Creon scarcity was the 'worst stock shortage' they have ever dealt with. Pancreatic Cancer UK called on ministers to buy supplies of Creon directly from countries that have a surplus in order to tackle the shortage in Britain. A DHSC spokesperson said: 'We know how frustrating and distressing medicine supply issues can be for patients and the clinicians caring for them. 'The European-wide supply issues with Creon are caused by a limited availability of raw ingredients and manufacturing capacity constraints. 'We are working closely with industry and the NHS to mitigate the impact on patients and resolve the issues as quickly as possible.'
Wales Online
02-06-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Cancer patients hit by key drug shortage
Cancer patients hit by key drug shortage Some patients are travelling more than 30 miles to get hold of Creon Creon helps patients to properly digest food (Image: Getty Images ) Patients battling cancer are facing severe difficulties due to a dire lack of the essential medication Creon which over 60,000 UK patients rely on. The shortage has prompted some people to only eat once a day as they ration their supplies, according to warnings from pharmacists. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said those suffering from pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, and chronic pancreatitis are affected by this shortage and some are travelling over 30 miles in desperate search of the medication. Creon serves as a vital pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (Pert) that helps patients properly digest food and absorb its nutrients. Recent data from an NPA survey of 300 pharmacies revealed a startling 96% are experiencing issues stocking Creon, with 89% also saying they've struggled to provide alternative Pert treatments. Patient hardships reported include cases where individuals have resorted to consuming only one meal a day to make their supply of Creon last longer, as well as people going without medication or travelling across multiple pharmacies to find some. A pharmacist has expressed their concern, labelling this the "worst stock shortage" ever encountered in their profession. Article continues below In response, the Government has decided to extend the serious shortage protocols (SSP) for Creon up until November. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here . These rules allow pharmacists to dispense a smaller number of available Creon capsules without requiring patients to go back to their GP for a renewed prescription. The NPA survey also discovered that a significant 81% of pharmacies believe the current procedures for managing the shortage of Creon fall short of what is needed. The study revealed that pharmacists are still having to redirect patients back for new prescriptions for an alternative Pert product, or an unlicensed Creon product. Olivier Picard, chairman of the NPA, said: "Pharmacies are at the sharp end of medicine shortages, spending hours hunting stock and supporting frustrated and concerned patients. "It simply cannot be right that in the 21st century patients are skipping meals in order to ration their medication. "Although we recognise this situation is complex and not the fault of the Government, it's important they convene a taskforce and a national action plan to tackle this particular shortage given its impact on patients. Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, head of influencing and health improvement at Pancreatic Cancer UK, added: "Thousands of people affected by pancreatic cancer rely on taking Pert tablets every time they eat simply to digest their food and absorb nutrients – something most of us take for granted. "It's totally unacceptable that they are still taking desperate measures which puts their health, wellbeing and their eligibility for treatment at risk. "For over a year, we have been raising concerns with Department of Health and Social Care officials and Pert suppliers, urging them to prioritise solutions that reduce the impact on patients. "But despite these conversations, progress has been far too slow and patients continue to pay the price. The situation is unacceptable and it demands immediate action." A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We know how frustrating and distressing medicine supply issues can be for patients and the clinicians caring for them. Article continues below "The European-wide supply issues with Creon are caused by a limited availability of raw ingredients and manufacturing capacity constraints. We are working closely with industry and the NHS to mitigate the impact on patients and resolve the issues as quickly as possible."
