Class 2 Recall - Accuretic 10/12.5 mg film-coated tablets

Pfizer Ltd are recalling batch number DD4842 as a precautionary measure due to the identification of a nitrosamine above the acceptable limit.

MHRA drug alert link:

https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-2-medicines-recall-pfizer-limited-accuretic-10-slash-12-dot-5-mg-film-coated-tablets-el-22-a-slash-16?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=aa52a52c-2b0d-4e40-bcc1-82255ece8cd4&utm_content=immediately

Further Information

For medical information enquiries, please contact Pfizer Medical Information Department on 01304 616161

Please return all affected stock to your original supplier for credit. Unfortunately we can only accept stock purchased from us (Alliance Healthcare Distribution Limited). Any other stock will be returned to your stores/Pharmacies.

Please note that anything not returned to us, or notified to us, within 3 months of this notification, cannot be reimbursed by way of a credit.

Easter 2022 Bank Holiday Opening Hours now available

To help keep our customers informed of changes to our service, we have published our Easter 2022 Bank Holiday opening hours. 

Please click here for more information.

Danone OTC RWA - 4th April 2022

We are pleased to announce that, as of 4th April 22, Alliance Healthcare UK will become the only wholesaler to supply Danone’s OTC product portfolio to all pharmacies in the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland.

A full list of Danone’s OTC product portfolio is available here.

To receive these products from 4th April 22, you can simply order from Alliance Healthcare in your usual manner. These products will be available on a next day delivery service.

Danone Branded Medical RWA - 4th April 2022

We are pleased to announce that, as of 4th April 22, Alliance Healthcare UK will become the only wholesaler to supply selected products of Danone to all pharmacies and dispensing doctors in the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland.

Details of these products can be found here.

Service Disruption from Leeds Service Centre

Unfortunately overnight, Leeds Service Centre experienced a local issue with their automation.  As a result, we have been unable to despatch some orders for delivery this morning.  For assurance, all fridge, bulk and controlled drugs have been despatched as normal and centrally stocked items are unaffected. Customers do not need to re-order. Orders are being received as normal and the issue has now been resolved. 

Orders transmitted before 9am this morning will be delivered this afternoon.  Orders transmitted up to this evening’s cut off will be delivered tomorrow morning.

Again to reiterate, controlled drugs, fridge and bulk items, along with centrally stocked items are not affected by this issue and will be delivered as normal. 

We are sorry for any inconvenience this causes. 

Customer Service will support with any emergency requirements. 

Our philanthropic efforts in response to the Ukrainian conflict

AmerisourceBergen and Alliance Healthcare - March 18, 2022

As we continue to follow the tragic developments in Ukraine, our hearts and our thoughts remain with the local people. Their courage and resilience in the face of these terrible circumstances is an inspiration, and their heroic everyday actions remind us of the importance of doing all we can to help. At AmerisourceBergen, we are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures and we are honoured to be able to offer the following philanthropic support.

Across all businesses within AmerisourceBergen, our team members are working with governments, associations and partners across Europe to understand and respond to the needs identified by Ukrainian authorities and humanitarian organisations, such as the World Health Organisation.

The safety and wellbeing of our Word Courier colleagues in Ukraine is a priority and all necessary support is being provided. The company’s Associate Assistance Fund, which gives aid to team members facing financial hardship due to an event outside their control, has provided financial assistance to several team members in the Eastern Europe region that have been directly impacted by the conflict.  This support will continue and they remain in our thoughts in the days and weeks ahead.  

In alignment with AmerisourceBergen Foundation’s mission  a total of $500K to support the humanitarian response in and around Ukraine has been granted.  Recipient organizations include the following:

• > Americares
• > Direct Relief
• > International Committee of the Red Cross
• > International Medical Corps
• > International Rescue Committee
• > Project HOPE
• > International Health Partners
• > Greater Good

The AmerisourceBergen Foundation is also matching employee donations on a 2:1 basis to Direct Relief, International Committee of the Red Cross, the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund at GlobalGiving and Americares.  As of March 18th, team members from 28 countries have donated more than $60K. This will be matched by the Foundation for an additional $120K+, for a total of just under $185k going to support the work being done to address the humanitarian crisis in and around Ukraine. 

Partnering with Americares and Direct Relief, AmerisourceBergen has to date provided product donations valued at nearly $200k and this continues to grow.   Items such as antibiotics, first aid supplies, glove and general healthcare and hygiene products along with animal health products will support the efforts on-the-ground.   

To date Alliance Healthcare has donated approximately $92K in corporate cash donations.  Other support from our country businesses include:

• > Romania is on the front line in helping with the unfolding humanitarian crisis and has initiated multiple projects with Save the Children including providing support for mother and children refugees and a donation of infant formula and baby food along with giving 15,000 euros to hospitals in Ukraine on Romanian border and a further 15,000 euros to assist Ukrainian refugees in Romania.
• > Alloga in the Czech Republic is working with the Ministry of Health and providing vital logistical expertise transporting medical products to the Ukraine.

• > In Lithuania, the team have already worked with the Government to supply vital medicines to Ukraine; and after collaboration with the Lithuanian Ministry of Health and a third party organisation, it is now supplying vital medicines directly to the Lviv Children’s hospital in Ukraine.
• > Norway is making a significant financial donation of over 450,000 NOK ($50,000) to the Red Cross.
• > In Turkey as part of the company’s membership of the American Chamber of Commerce, our team is investigating how it can support with both humanitarian and medical requirements.  
• > Alloga UK has partnered with International Health Partners (IHP) for a number of years whereby they receive a number of medicines on their behalf (charity donations from pharma manufacturers) and assemble them into essential medicines kits following IHP's instructions. To support efforts in the Ukraine and in addition the ABF donation mentioned above, Alloga colleagues are picking and packing kits in their own time and the business is covering the costs of sending existing and newly assembled kits on behalf of IHP to the country.
• > Across all other markets, our colleagues, Alphega member pharmacies and partners are collaborating to plan additional support including further product donations and fundraising.  

A perspective from Steve Collis, CEO of AmerisourceBergen can be found at: (8) Finding Solace in Insecurity – Reflecting on the Invasion of Ukraine | LinkedIn.

*All figures accurate as of time of publishing.

The Pharmacy Collect and lateral flow device (LFD) test kit scheme is closing – what you need to know:

Since the start of the Pharmacy Collect programme Alliance Healthcare has partnered the UKHSA to deliver over 320 million lateral flow device (LFD) test kits to community pharmacy across the UK.

In line with the Government’s Living with Covid Plan and testing for most citizens ceasing at the end of March, we are working with UKHSA to ensure that LFD test kits continue to be evenly distributed in the remaining two weeks and, just as importantly, that the amount of remaining stock after the service closes is minimised.

UKHSAs’ last delivery to Alliance Healthcare UK is Friday 18th March. Alliance Healthcare will continue to deliver LFDs whilst stocks last and up until Friday 25th March.

You will not be able to place a Return for LFD test kits from 18th March, unless it is faulty or damaged. Visit www.alliance-healthcare.co.uk for further details.

Alliance Healthcare UK to enter into a wholesale agreement with Advanced Medical Solutions April 2022

We are pleased to announce that, as of 01 April 2022, Alliance Healthcare UK will become one of the chosen wholesalers to supply Advanced Medical Solutions’ product portfolio to all pharmacies, hospitals and dispensing doctors in the United Kingdom.

To receive Adavanced Medical Solutions’ products from 01 April 2022, you can simply order from Alliance Healthcare in your usual manner. These products will be available on a next day delivery service.

Class 4 Drug Caution In Use - Benzylpenicillin benzathine 1.2 Million I.U. and 2.4 Million I.U. powder and solvent for suspension for injection

Brancaster Pharma Limited have notified us of an issue relating to the label of the Water for Injections (solvent) packaged in each finished product pack.

MHRA drug alert link:

https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-4-medicines-defect-information-benzylpenicillin-benzathine-1-dot-2-million-iu-and-2-dot-4-million-iu-powder-and-solvent-for-suspension-for-injection-el-22-a-slash-15?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=0932503e-1ef9-44ca-ae54-31760eaacaf9&utm_content=immediately

This is a caution in use only we are not accepting stock returns.

Further Information

For medical information and stock control queries please contact: safety@brancasterpharma.com

Company Led Recall - NETSPOT (Kit for the preparation of gallium Ga 68 dotatate injection) [unlicensed medicine]

Advanced Accelerator Applications is recalling specific batches of this product as a precautionary measure due to an out of specification result that was identified during stability testing.

MHRA drug alert link: 

https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/company-led-medicines-recall-advanced-accelerator-applications-netspot-kit-for-the-preparation-of-gallium-ga-68-dotatate-injection-unlicensed-medicine-clmr-22-a-slash-02?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=1f3d3fed-4932-4368-813d-6fcf6dd2ef00&utm_content=immediately

Alliance do not stock this product and therefore we are not accepting stock returns.

Company contact for medical enquiries

For more medical information please contact Diane Fogarty: diana.fogarty@novartis.com

Company contact for stock enquiries

For more stock information please contact Jane Farr: jane.farr@novartis.com