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In this issue:

NEWS: Calls for pharmacy role expansion Page 4

MEDICINES: Pharmacist-led medication reviews Page 6

FEATURE: Making decisions about Fertility treatment Page 16

CONFERENCE: IPHA host Annual Conference in Dublin Page 20

CPD: Emergency Contraception Page 39

FINANCE: State Pension Opportunities Page 46

AWARDS: OTC & Retail Pharmacy Product Award Winners Page 50

TEAM TRAINING: Sleep Disorders Page 78

Foreword

Page 5: Adrian Dunne Pharmacy a ‘Great Place to Work’

Page 6: Pharmacist-led medicines reviews in GP practice

Page 12: New targets for managing diabetes

Page 14: Medicine shortages for asthma patients

Page 16: Pharmacy role in infertility treatment and advice

Page 20: European proposals will degrade development of new medicines

Page 24: No proposals for Chief Pharmaceutical Officer

Page 50: OTC Retail Pharmacy Product Award winners 2023

PUBLISHER:

IPN Communications

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MANAGING DIRECTOR

Natalie Maginnis n-maginnis@btconnect.com

EDITOR

Kelly Jo Eastwood: 00353 (87)737 6308 kelly-jo@ipn.ie

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE

Amy Evans: amy@ipn.ie

EDITORIAL/ EVENTS & MARKETING EXECUTIVE

Aoife Hunter: aoife@ipn.ie

CONTRIBUTORS

Caitriona Fitzpatrick

Sarah Magner

Gaston L. Cluzel

Noel M. Caplice

Helen Forristal

Duarte Nunes da Silva

Kieran Moore

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Ian Stoddart Design

Irish Pharmacy News is circulated to all independent, multiple Pharmacists and academics in Ireland.

All rights reserved by Irish Pharmacy News. All material published in Irish Pharmacy News is copyright and no part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without written permission.

IPN Communications Ltd. has taken every care in compiling the magazine to ensure that it is correct at the time of going to press, however the publishers assume no responsibility for any effects from omissions or errors.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health was recently told that there is significant untapped potential in Ireland’s community pharmacy sector. Addressing the Committee the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) outlined a series of proposals to expand the range of services available at pharmacies, which will improve patient care and relieve pressure on the health system. President of the Irish Pharmacy Union and Cloyne based pharmacist Dermot Twomey will say, “Community pharmacy is recognised as the most accessible element of our health service. There is a pharmacy in nearly every town and village in the Country, with 85% of our population living within 5 km of one. Community pharmacy provides a ready-to-go health infrastructure which we believe can be utilised better.”

Turn to page 4 to read the full story.

On page 6, Leon O’Hagan, Senior Pharmacist iSIMPATHY Project (Louth) gives readers an overview of pharmacist-led medicines reviews within GP practices.

Over the past two years, GPs in border counties and their patients have benefitted from a novel EU-funded project. iSIMPATHY delivers an interdisciplinary collaborative approach centred around pharmacist-led medicines reviews. Clinical pharmacists have joined 11 practices and have delivered holistic person-centred medicines reviews with over 2,200 patients with complex medication needs.

In other news, medicine shortages continue to impact patient care. The most recent report show the number of medicine shortages in Ireland up an additional 19 medicines in short supply since the end of last month, and a 38% increase since the Index began in October. Of the 247 medicines currently unavailable, 13 are listed on the World Medical Organisation’s (WHO) ‘critical medicines’ list. Read the full article on page 14. This issue also showcases all the winners from the 2023 OTC & Retail Pharmacy Product Awards. These are the only industry Awards that specifically recognise and reward the companies and their products within the OTC market, acting as a celebration and showcase of product innovation, marketing and value to its customer.

Originally launched in 2008, the Awards were judged by an independent panel, comprising of over 40 judges from across the community pharmacy sector, representing both multiple and independent pharmacies, buying groups, wholesalers and industry. Once again the judges were overwhelmed by the quality and quantity of products. Turn to page 50 for all the winners and details on product selection from members of the judging panel.

I hope you enjoy the issue.

Regulars

FEATURE: WOMEN’S INTIMATE HEALTH

FEATURE: GUT HEALTH

FEATURE: BOWEL CANCER

CPD: EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION

FINANCE: UK STATE PENSIONS

P26

P32

P36

P39

P44

CLINICAL PR: P80