Pharma Focus America’s Post

Polypharmacy, or the use of multiple medications by an individual (typically seen in population aged 60 and above) , can pose significant risks to the health, quality of life and overall well-being. While medications are often necessary to manage various health conditions, the simultaneous use of multiple drugs can increase the likelihood of adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, medication errors, and decreased adherence to treatment plans. It can also lead to confusion, falls, hospitalizations, and a decrease in overall quality of life. Managing polypharmacy requires careful monitoring, medication review, and coordination among healthcare providers to optimize therapy and minimize risks. Kudos to the impactful work done by iSimpathy project. Through informative guides and engaging animations, healthcare professionals are empowered with resources on treatment cost-effectiveness and the pharmacist's vital role in medicines reviews. Patient-centric materials including leaflets and videos also ensure informed decision-making and preparation. Check out bayartis GmbH to learn how we plan to tackle the challenges of Polypharmacy by providing simple tools to patients and caregivers for better awareness in a easy to understand simple language. #Polypharmacy #HealthcareInnovation #PatientEmpowerment #iSimpathyProject #Bayartis

SIRUM's work is possible through state policies allowing medicine donation and drug repository programs. We were proud to support Georgia House Bill 1072 to help make medicine more accessible for patients across GA. The bill expands the state's drug repository program run by Good Pill Pharmacy, one of our flagship community partners: ✅ Boosts access when patients need it most by requiring hospitals, pharmacies, and other state health programs to promote Good Pill when prescribed drugs are unaffordable (most Good Pill prescriptions are $2/month) ✅ Makes it easier for patients to fill their prescriptions at Good Pill by allowing easier substitutions of equivalent doses ✅ Increases the amount of affordable medicine available to patients by encouraging more organizations to donate (instead of destroy) eligible medicine ✅ And more! As the nation's largest redistributor of surplus medicine, SIRUM advises drug donation policies across the country. More meds saved = more lives saved. Let’s keep it going! >> Read the Georgia House press release: https://lnkd.in/gk7mfi-9

**World Pharmacists Day: Honoring the Heroes Who Enhance Global Health** **September 25, 2024** The Medical Supply Team works tirelessly to ensure continuous drug availability, overcome shortages, and provide free medical alternatives for all patients. They achieve this by developing a three-month forecast plan, and communicating regularly with company representatives, authorized distributors, and Unified Procurement Authority (UPA) officials responsible for managing shortages. When medications are unavailable through the UPA, the team secures them through donor funds. This comprehensive approach guarantees free treatment for all patients while effectively managing drug supplies and addressing shortages #مستشفي_الثدي #المعهد_القومي_للاورام #nationalcancerinstitute #breastcancerhospital #brestcancerawareness #breastcancer #cancerawareness #breastcancerhospital #cancersupport #breastcancerawarenesss #cancerpreventionn #BreastCancerTreatmentt #cancerresearch #breastcancersurvivor #cancerfighter #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #cancerfree #breastcancerwarrior #CancerAwarenessCampaign #BreastCancerAwarenessRibbon

In 1992, Congress created a program called 340B, which required drug companies to sell their products at deep discounts to certain federally-funded hospitals and clinics. The goal was reduce outpatient prescription costs for the uninsured or vulnerable patients served by these medical facilities. Over time, the program has grown massively, quadrupling from 2014 to 2020, and now is a $54 billion per year program. Unfortunately, as is often the case with complex legislation, the "law of unintended consequences" kicked in, and while the program has grown massively, it isn't achieving its intended purpose of reducing drug costs for the uninsured or vulnerable patients. Why? 340B has become a profit center for hospital systems. A recent report shows how far this program has morphed from its original and laudable intention. - Collectively, hospitals using 340B earn more than double the profits from their discounted drugs than they spend on charity care. - 85% of hospitals using 340B earn more profits from their discounted drugs than they spend on charity care - Two-thirds of hospitals using 340B provide less charity care than the national average - One in four of hospital using 340B spend less than 1% of their operating budgets on charity care - Less than one-third of hospitals using 340B provide 80% of the charity care provided by ALL 340B hospitals It's time to fix this broken program, and ensure that it is actually serving the uninsured and vulnerable patients it was designed to serve, and not the profit motives of hospitals and health care systems. Tell your Congressman or Senator it's high time we fix 340B! https://340breform.org/

Earlier this week, CF Together participated in Medicines Australia's PharmAus24 event in Canberra, where the Albanese Government unveiled the Review of Australia’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) policies and methods. This comprehensive review paves the way for faster access to new medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), with 50 key recommendations aimed at overhauling systems and accelerating patient access to critical treatments. The Government also released a second report on Enhancing Consumer Engagement Process in Australian Health Technology Assessment and released 10 further recommendations to enhance the patient and consumer voice in the HTA process. The findings underscore the urgent need for reform, with patients experiencing profound negative consequences caused by delays in access to new treatments. The report also recognises the need for system-wide changes to address inequities, improve timeliness, attract innovative medicines to Australia, and enhance patient engagement to prioritise what truly matters to them. CF Together welcomes these two reports and its recommendations and stands ready to support the government with the implementation phase. We look forward to the tangible changes that will ensure faster access to life-saving medications for Australians, and particularly Australians living with cystic fibrosis (CF). Notably, this is the first HTA review in 30 years, and CF Together was proud to have our Head of Improving Care, Policy, and Advocacy, Genevieve Handley, represent our community on the Enhanced Consumer Engagement Working Group. As new, personalised medicines and potential DNA/RNA therapies emerge, CF Together remains committed to advocating for timely access to these innovations, ensuring all people living with CF can fully benefit from these groundbreaking treatments. #CFMedications #AcceleratingAccess #NoOneLeftBehind #CFTogether #CysticFibrosisAdvocacy #CFAdvocacy

Today, Barbara McGowan, David Reith and Dr Laura Falvey hosted a roundtable discussion bringing together NHS clinicians, commissioners, service providers, pharmaceutical and patient groups from across the UK to discuss the future of weight-management services and explore shared solutions to propose to our new government. Obesity is one of the biggest challenges faced by patients, the NHS and society today. Currently, 14 million Britons live with obesity and this is projected to rise to 20 million by 2030. Despite challenges regarding adequate funding, resources and inequity of access, the urgency to act has never been more important. The key question we posed in the session was: What does good look like for the treatment of obesity, and where are we now? We are committed to ensuring safe and effective obesity care for all patients and will continue to hold these vital discussions. Thank you to everyone who attended for your contributions and engagement. If you would like to join the conversation, comment below or reach out to Dr Laura Falvey or Matt James. #roundtable #discussion #NHS #clinicians, #commissioners, #service #pharmaceutical #patient #government #obesity #funding, #resources #access #care #contributions #engagement #conversation

In the midst of all the political chaos most people aren't paying much attention to what's happening at the federal level to try to keep healthcare costs down for consumers. But we are. This one's top on our list. In 1992 Congress passed an act creating what is known as the 340B Drug Pricing Program. It was a good move. The program was designed to help vulnerable patients access medications that they might not otherwise be able to afford, by forcing drug manufacturers to provide steep discounts on outpatient medications to what is called "safety net" clinics and hospitals. It's still in effect today, with 57 percent of all hospitals, and 46 percent of contract pharmacies in the U.S. participating in the program, including in Colorado, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. The expectation was that savings would be used to ensure vulnerable patients have access to their medications. Not surprisingly, it would appear that the cost savings are now primarily being diverted to middlemen, known as Pharmacy Benefit Managers, to boost their bottom line. According to research by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturer's Association, the top performing 340B hospitals nationwide collected nearly $10 in total profit for every $1 they invested in charity care. Fortunately, this misdirection of funds has been discovered and Congress is once again looking at how to tighten regulations around the program so that, instead of benefiting an industry, it stays true to its intent, to help less affluent Americans, be able to afford their life-saving medications. CHAIN is monitoring the legislation. Stay tuned. We may need your help in lobbying Congress in the near future.

Patients today often struggle to access and afford the medicines they need. At the start of each new year health care deductibles re-set and cost-sharing and formularies from the previous year often change leading to January surprises at the pharmacy counter. Exacerbating these issues are misaligned incentives in the system that often lead to patients paying more than what their insurance company or hospital paid for the medicine. There are solutions to address the affordability challenges patients face and to ensure federal programs like the 340B program directly benefit the vulnerable patients the program was designed to help. I discussed some of the challenges patients are experiencing as well as solutions to address these issues with @Rebecca Willumson at @Fierce Life Sciences Events’ #FierceJPMWeek.   Watch the conversation here:  https://lnkd.in/eijAYC3E

Services to Improve Therapeutic Outcomes Improve Star Ratings - Pharmacy Times: Services to Improve Therapeutic Outcomes Improve Star Ratings  Pharmacy Times

As a timely marker of National Palliative Care Week 2024 (19-25 May), the only Standard of Practice in Palliative Care for Pharmacy Services has been released by SHPA. This new Standard of Practice is now available in our flagship Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research #JPPR through Early View! → https://lnkd.in/gDVcCCPq Lead author Josephine To, Chair of SHPA’s Palliative Care Leadership Committee, says: 'Demand for palliative care services will only grow due to the disease burden and multimorbidity associated with an ageing Australian population [...]' ‘Effective interdisciplinary medication management involving pharmacists can relieve suffering, mitigate risks or prevent harms, and bring comfort to patients who are dying and their carers.’ SHPA President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) acknowledged Josephine To and everyone working as part of SHPA’s Palliative Care Standard of Practice Working Group for their commitment in making this critical update available: ‘Josephine and her team’s passion to optimise quality of care and quality of life speaks to the dedication of palliative care pharmacists.' ‘I would also like to extend thanks to the many organisations who supported the review process including Palliative Care Australia, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF), Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.' Read more in our full article! → https://lnkd.in/gjnMpPqv