Information - Pharmacist Digest

STAT+: Apple launches sweeping new health study that may inform future features

STAT

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Apple on Wednesday announced a new longitudinal research study that will investigate relationships between different aspects of health that can be measured using its devices, potentially informing the development of new health features.

Hospitals

Half of adults struggle to access trusted health information

The Pharmacist

DECEMBER 17, 2024

Around half of adults in the UK struggle to access trusted health information, according to a new report.

Informal referrals deprive pharmacies of 'more than £115m a year'

The Pharmacist

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Informal referrals to community pharmacies deprive pharmacies of more than £115 million each year, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has estimated. Although funding […] The post Informal referrals deprive pharmacies of 'more than £115m a year' appeared first on The Pharmacist.

Community Pharmacies

USDA faulted for disclosing scant information about outbreaks of H5N1 avian flu in cattle

STAT

APRIL 18, 2024

government to release more information to help them assess the risk the outbreaks pose to cattle operations and people. But they are operating largely in the dark because the United States has released such sparse information, said Marion Koopmans, head of the department of viroscience at Erasmus Medical Center in the Dutch city of Rotterdam.

Enhance Healthcare Efficiency With Top Payroll & HCM Services

Download now to make informed decisions and learn how IRIS Payroll & HCM Services can empower your healthcare organization today. Automated HR management streamlines onboarding, scheduling, and performance tracking, allowing more focus on patient care.

Opinion: Done right, AI can give patients crucial information on the quality of their care

STAT

OCTOBER 23, 2023

Yet even as AI is providing doctors with increasingly sophisticated data, the information available to patients has stagnated. Whether you have cancer, need a knee replacement, or face serious heart surgery, reliable comparative information is difficult to find and use. And what is available is often years old. Read the rest…

Hospitals

Opinion: Patients might finally receive practical information with prescriptions — if the FDA doesn’t blow it

STAT

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

After years of deliberation, the FDA has proposed giving patients a simple one-pager for every prescription drug with the information needed for safe and effective use. The Food and Drug Administration knows many of the answers. It wants patients to know them, too.

Packaging

Public health leaders, distrustful of RFK Jr., stand up project to defend vaccines

STAT

APRIL 24, 2025

Read the rest…

Vaccines

STAT+: FTC says pharmacy benefit managers are stonewalling requests for information

STAT

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

A much-anticipated inquiry by U.S. antitrust regulators into pharmaceutical industry middlemen has been stymied because the companies have failed to provide many of the documents that, in some cases, were requested as far back as June 2022.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Documentation

STAT+: Teva fined $503 million for disparaging a rival and using patents to thwart competition

STAT

OCTOBER 31, 2024

The European Commission found the company had artificially extended the patent protection of Copaxone and systematically spread misleading information about a rival product.

Drug Pricing

Alcohol labels should carry ‘Alcohol Facts’ box listing nutrition and allergens, regulator says

STAT

JANUARY 17, 2025

Labels on alcohol could soon feature more thorough information on allergens and nutritional value, if a set of new proposals from the U.S. Treasury Department is approved.

Labelling

Opinion: I’m disabled. I’m terrified about what Medicaid cuts could mean for my life

STAT

MARCH 3, 2025

The letter informed me that I had been approved for Medicaid-funded Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), a form of long-term care. In early January, I received a letter in the mail from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Hospitals

STAT+: HHS to continue funding cancer prevention, tracking work in states after uncertainty

STAT

JUNE 30, 2025

State and local officials had been bracing for bad news in recent weeks because they had received little to no information from federal health agencies about key cancer programs. For many states, money from last year ran out over the weekend. Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…

STAT+: 23andMe’s bankruptcy is the worst thing that could happen to just about everyone involved

STAT

MARCH 24, 2025

The same way bankruptcy was described by Ernest Hemingway in 1926: “Two ways: Gradually, and then suddenly.”

STAT+: Drug may make chemotherapies less effective in cancer patients with obesity — but many doctors are in the dark

STAT

OCTOBER 28, 2024

The information, however, is not in the label because the drug — originally manufactured by Merck — was never fully tested in this population. A drug used to combat fungal infections in cancer patients comes with a big caveat — research shows the medicine can last twice as long as in people with obesity.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy Labelling

STAT+: RFK Jr. brings FDA under tighter control with HHS workforce cuts

STAT

MARCH 27, 2025

Instead, the cuts will target employees working on policy, human resources, information technology, procurement, and communications. FDA drug, medical device, or food reviewers and inspectors will not be among those fired, according to an HHS fact sheet.

Communication

STAT+: FDA cancels vaccine advisory committee meeting

STAT

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

Offit said the email contained no information about rescheduling the meeting, and noted that the meeting is a critical resource for vaccine makers trying to figure out which flu strains to include in their shots for the next flu season.

Vaccines

What YouTube Health is doing to combat misinformation and promote evidence-based content

STAT

NOVEMBER 29, 2024

Responsibility is at the core of how YouTube works and how we treat sensitive information, particularly around health.” “People come to us to learn how to fix their fridge and to learn about medicines,” he said in an interview. “There’s a lot of responsibility, and we take that seriously.

Opinion: 23andMe’s bankruptcy doesn’t diminish its impact

STAT

MARCH 25, 2025

Most individuals never contemplated accessing their genetic information independently, nor imagined using genetic data proactively to make personal health decisions. Read the rest…

Technology’s role in supplying healthcare professionals with accessible medicines information

pharmaphorum

JULY 10, 2025

Rich Cooper, CEO of Datapharm, shares his insight on what HCPs need from the pharmaceutical industry to improve access to reliable, trusted medicines information.

RFK Jr. says he plans to tell CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water

STAT

APRIL 7, 2025

Environmental Protection Agency announced it is reviewing “new scientific information” on potential health risks of fluoride in drinking water. Kennedy also said he’s assembling a task force to focus on the issue. Also on Monday, the U.S. Read the rest…

STAT+: FDA scolds drugmaker over promotion that touts ‘misleading’ comparison with generics

STAT

MARCH 4, 2025

However, not only was there a lack of important risk information, but the promotional panel also maintained there was greater patient adherence to its drug compared with generics. The agency pointed out that the study cited by the company did not support this conclusion because of problems with the study design and methodology.

CDC workers fired from prominent STI, hepatitis labs are rehired

STAT

JUNE 16, 2025

The staff of two world-class laboratories at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that were slated to be closed in a round of cuts announced in April have been informed that their terminations have been canceled.

STAT+: Despite Kennedy’s stated support, funding for Women’s Health Initiative remains in limbo

STAT

APRIL 29, 2025

The researchers, sick about the news, were told by the coordinating center to wait a few days before informing the study’s steering committee, investigators in their respective regions, and others involved in running the study. “It was like being punched in the gut,” Stefanick recalled.

STAT+: Health plan formularies lowered barriers to fair access to some drugs, analysis finds

STAT

DECEMBER 19, 2024

generally provide “fair access” to 11 treatments for several serious diseases, although transparent coverage information is often lacking for some medicines, a new analysis has found. Most of the formularies run by some of the largest health plans in the U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs

Department of Veterans Affairs Diabetes Drug Pricing

Fixing pulse oximeters requires federal might and possible legal action, researchers say

STAT

DECEMBER 30, 2024

The new research analyzed paperwork submitted for FDA approval to market a device for 767 oximeters that had been approved between 1978-2024 and had accessible information about performance testing.

Documentation

STAT+: Mental health apps can boost outcomes and lower costs, study finds

STAT

MAY 20, 2025

Two new findings looking at the costs of adopting digital therapeutics may help inform their thinking. Clinical evidence supporting these prescription digital therapeutics has gradually improved , but policymakers and insurers have been hesitant to open the path to reimbursement too quickly. Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…

Turning Loss into Purpose: My Journey to a Pharmacy Career to Make a Difference

Pharmacy Is Right For Me

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

I utilized my campus’ career center and was really proactive in reaching out to local pharmacists to seek information about their experiences and passion for pharmacy. They often have resources and information to broaden your understanding of pharmacy as a career. My favorite part of pharmacy school is giving back to my community.

HHS starts layoffs of thousands of workers across its agencies

STAT

APRIL 1, 2025

“I regret to inform you that you have been affected by a reduction in force (RIF) action,” an email to affected employees said. It went on to tell the recipients that they were placed on immediate administrative leave, offering no details of the length of that leave.

STAT+: HHS backtracks on pledge to disclose new vaccine advisers’ conflicts of interest

STAT

JULY 9, 2025

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services is sitting on information about new vaccine advisers’ conflicts of interest, and seemingly backtracking on its vow to make key disclosure documents public. That deadline came and went. Kennedy Jr. added to the agency’s website.

Vaccines

Vaccines Documentation Immunity Immunization

Opinion: Proposed cuts could have ‘catastrophic effect,’ 110 biomedical, health sciences industry leaders tell Congress

STAT

JUNE 27, 2025

Read the rest…

Questions about Pfizer’s GenAI ‘Health Answers’

STAT

MARCH 4, 2025

Pfizer recently rolled out a new generative AI product, called Health Answers by Pfizer , designed to provide consumers trustworthy information about common questions. Sign up to get it delivered in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday.

STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a biotech IPO slump, FDA oversight of pharma ads, and more

STAT

MAY 28, 2025

Durbin noted that, about one month ago, Makary said on the Megyn Kelly Show that the FDA is “looking at the information in those ads. Is it complete and informative?

Drug Development

STAT+: Health care providers form a united front against stricter patient privacy rules

STAT

MARCH 7, 2025

After yet another record year for health data breaches, updated federal security rules to protect patient information are on the table in 2025. “It does raise significant issues about whether small practices and small institutions can effectively protect patient privacy in the new age we’re living in.

HIPAA

HIPAA Hospitals

How the FDA’s new nutrition labels could prod the food industry to get healthier

STAT

JANUARY 15, 2025

A new government proposal to display nutritional labels on the front of food packaging is aimed at helping Americans make more informed choices about what they eat. An eventual side effect, research and expert commentary suggests, could be nudging the food industry to make healthier food, too.

Labelling

Labelling Packaging Diabetes

Opinion: I’m adopted. I still won’t use genetic testing services like 23andMe

STAT

JUNE 12, 2025

People have often suggested I try 23andMe or a similar company to get more information on my genetics. The acquisition raises pressing questions about genetic data privacy, consent, and the commercialization of personal health information. But I’ve always felt uneasy about it.

STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Novo Holdings proceeding with Catalent deal, Sanofi threatened with sanctions, and more

STAT

DECEMBER 16, 2024

regulators declined to challenge the deal following months of scrutiny , STAT informs us. However, the credit would only be issued after the hospital or clinic submits claims data, including the prescription order, a patient’s hospital visit, and dispensing information. Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…

Hospitals

Hospitals Pharmaceutical Companies Pharmaceutical Companies

STAT+: Mayo Clinic taps former Biden administration official to oversee its use of AI

STAT

APRIL 10, 2025

Tripathi most recently was the assistant secretary for technology policy and the national coordinator for health information technology. He led the government’s efforts to establish guardrails for use of AI by federal health agencies and private businesses. Mayo Clinic confirmed his hiring on Thursday.

Mayo Clinic

STAT+: Lawmakers ask FDA to review Hims’ Super Bowl ad for ‘misleading’ patients

STAT

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

wrote that they worry that the Hims ad, which will be seen by millions of people during the big game on Sunday, “risks misleading patients by omitting any safety or side effect information” about the compounded weight loss drugs that it promotes. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.)

Compounding

Hospitals pledge to protect patient privacy. Almost all their websites leak visitor data like a sieve

STAT

APRIL 3, 2023

And almost every one of them uses sophisticated data tools to track and share the personal information of visitors as soon as they start clicking on their websites. A new study found that 99% of U.S.

Hospitals

Opinion: Millions of people are missing from U.S. disability data

STAT

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024

For instance, they appear in the Census Bureau’s surveys, which provide information that “generates data that help inform how trillions of dollars in federal funds are distributed each year.” Combined, they are used in at least 17 U.S. population.

STAT+: A GPT-powered medical device certified in Europe raises questions about generative AI in health care

STAT

JULY 3, 2025

Earlier, in March, the first generative AI tool for providing medical information, “Prof. ’s National Health Service said it would regulate highly popular ambient AI scribes as Class 1 medical devices. Valmed,” was certified in Europe as a medium-to-high-risk medical device. While the U.S.

STAT+: Vinay Prasad tapped to run FDA center that regulates vaccines, gene therapies

STAT

MAY 6, 2025

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary informed staff of the hire in a Tuesday email obtained by STAT, and later announced it in a post on social media site X. After reports of his appointment, the S&P Biotech ETF extended losses, tumbling more than 5%.

Vaccines

Vaccines Drug Development

Tracking bird flu virus changes in cows is stymied by missing data, scientists say

STAT

MAY 2, 2024

Department of Agriculture after the agency again failed to include basic information needed to track how the virus is changing as it spreads.

Labelling

STAT+: Apple launches sweeping new health study that may inform future features

Half of adults struggle to access trusted health information

Trending Sources

Informal referrals deprive pharmacies of 'more than £115m a year'

USDA faulted for disclosing scant information about outbreaks of H5N1 avian flu in cattle

Enhance Healthcare Efficiency With Top Payroll & HCM Services

Opinion: Done right, AI can give patients crucial information on the quality of their care

Opinion: Patients might finally receive practical information with prescriptions — if the FDA doesn’t blow it

Public health leaders, distrustful of RFK Jr., stand up project to defend vaccines

STAT+: FTC says pharmacy benefit managers are stonewalling requests for information

STAT+: Teva fined $503 million for disparaging a rival and using patents to thwart competition

Alcohol labels should carry ‘Alcohol Facts’ box listing nutrition and allergens, regulator says

Opinion: I’m disabled. I’m terrified about what Medicaid cuts could mean for my life

STAT+: HHS to continue funding cancer prevention, tracking work in states after uncertainty

STAT+: 23andMe’s bankruptcy is the worst thing that could happen to just about everyone involved

STAT+: Drug may make chemotherapies less effective in cancer patients with obesity — but many doctors are in the dark

STAT+: RFK Jr. brings FDA under tighter control with HHS workforce cuts

STAT+: FDA cancels vaccine advisory committee meeting

What YouTube Health is doing to combat misinformation and promote evidence-based content

Opinion: 23andMe’s bankruptcy doesn’t diminish its impact

Technology’s role in supplying healthcare professionals with accessible medicines information

RFK Jr. says he plans to tell CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water

STAT+: FDA scolds drugmaker over promotion that touts ‘misleading’ comparison with generics

CDC workers fired from prominent STI, hepatitis labs are rehired

STAT+: Despite Kennedy’s stated support, funding for Women’s Health Initiative remains in limbo

STAT+: Health plan formularies lowered barriers to fair access to some drugs, analysis finds

Fixing pulse oximeters requires federal might and possible legal action, researchers say

STAT+: Mental health apps can boost outcomes and lower costs, study finds

Turning Loss into Purpose: My Journey to a Pharmacy Career to Make a Difference

HHS starts layoffs of thousands of workers across its agencies

STAT+: HHS backtracks on pledge to disclose new vaccine advisers’ conflicts of interest

Opinion: Proposed cuts could have ‘catastrophic effect,’ 110 biomedical, health sciences industry leaders tell Congress

Questions about Pfizer’s GenAI ‘Health Answers’

STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a biotech IPO slump, FDA oversight of pharma ads, and more

STAT+: Health care providers form a united front against stricter patient privacy rules

How the FDA’s new nutrition labels could prod the food industry to get healthier

Opinion: I’m adopted. I still won’t use genetic testing services like 23andMe

STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Novo Holdings proceeding with Catalent deal, Sanofi threatened with sanctions, and more

STAT+: Mayo Clinic taps former Biden administration official to oversee its use of AI

STAT+: Lawmakers ask FDA to review Hims’ Super Bowl ad for ‘misleading’ patients

Hospitals pledge to protect patient privacy. Almost all their websites leak visitor data like a sieve

Opinion: Millions of people are missing from U.S. disability data

STAT+: A GPT-powered medical device certified in Europe raises questions about generative AI in health care

STAT+: Vinay Prasad tapped to run FDA center that regulates vaccines, gene therapies

Tracking bird flu virus changes in cows is stymied by missing data, scientists say

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