medicines
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) launches third annual campaign promoting medicine side effects reporting
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched the third annual social media campaign to promote the importance of reporting suspected side effects from medicines to the Yellow Card Scheme. Taking place from 19-23 November, the campaign forms part of an awareness week involving 32 medicines regulators in the EU, Latin America, Australasia
RCOphth Safety Announcement: BSS and Open Systems for Injectable Medicines
Following reported errors of drug misidentification in other specialties causing serious harm, when an injectable medication was decanted into an ‘open system’, eg a gallipot, before administration, NHS Improvement has expressed concerns to RCOphth about the widespread practice during cataract surgery of decanting BSS (balanced salt solution) from the infusion bag into a gallipot at
Eye Drop and Drug Shortages
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the UK Ophthalmic Pharmacy Group are aware of shortages of essential eye drops and drugs, often at short notice. In response to concerns raised by the College, the Department of Health Medicine Supply Team has confirmed that manufacturers have a legal duty to ensure continuity of supply of medicines
French health regulator reviews use of Avastin to treat AMD
College Statement The RCOphth notes with interest the move by the French health regulator, French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM), in asking Roche to provide information on the safety and efficiency of the off-label use of bevacizumab (Avastin) to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Ranibizumab (Lucentis), which is licensed as