Class 2 Recall - Heparin sodium 1,000 i.u./ml solution for injection or concentrate for solution for infusion

Wockhardt UK Ltd is recalling the above batch as a precautionary measure due to out of specification results due to a low bioassay result at the 24-month shelf life stability testing.

MHRA drug alert link:

https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-2-medicines-recall-wockhardt-uk-ltd-heparin-sodium-1000-i-dot-u-slash-ml-solution-for-injection-or-concentrate-for-solution-for-infusion-el-21-a-slash-38?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=8c88aa6c-3295-4d61-b6ac-4b16836ec2d6&utm_content=immediately

Further Information

For more information or medical information queries, please contact: drug.safety@wockhardt.co.uk

For stock control queries, please contact: customer.services@wockhardt.co.uk

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.

If you have any questions, then please contact your local Service Centre Customer Services team.

Viatris UK Limited – Reduced Wholesale Agreement

Please read this communication carefully for information regarding an upcoming product ordering blackout period for Upjohn UK Ltd lines. Key details are:

• – Customers will be unable to order the Upjohn UK Ltd product portfolio between 24th-31st December 2021. 

• – Impacted products will be available for order from 1st January 2022 for delivery from 4th January 2022.

• – List of impacted products included below in Appendix 1.

From 1st January 2022, Alliance Healthcare UK will become one of the chosen wholesalers to supply the Viatris UK Limited (“Viatris”) product portfolio to all pharmacies, hospitals and dispensing doctors in the UK including Northern Ireland.

To view the full Viatris product portfolio please click here. 

With effect from 1st January 2022, the business of Upjohn UK Limited (“Upjohn”) will be transferred to Viatris (formerly Mylan UK Healthcare Limited), so that all UK Viatris commercial activities operate under a single legal trading entity. Upjohn will cease to trade from this date. As a result of this change customers will be unable to order the Upjohn product portfolio impacted by this blackout period between 24th-31st December 2021. All affected products are highlighted in the above product list.

Final orders for these products will be your standard cut-off time on the evening of Thursday 23rd December for AM delivery on the 24th December. Following the morning deliveries on 24th December 2021 Upjohn will cease Direct to Pharmacy sales and transition to a Reduced Wholesaler Model through Viatris. Customers will be able to place orders for the impacted lines with Alliance Healthcare from 1st January 2022 for delivery from 4th January 2022.

Viatris have recently shared their own communication on this change advising you to ensure you have stock available within your pharmacies to cover any demand of the impacted products until the end of December 2021. Please click here to view this communication. The purchase, supply and distribution of all other Viatris products will remain unchanged, and will continue to be available through their existing supply arrangements both through this transition and from 1st January 2022.

From 1st January 2022, purchases of these lines will arrive as part of your usual Alliance Healthcare delivery service and, if purchased in isolation they will be subject to Alliance Healthcare’s low spend surcharge.

To receive the products from 1st January 2022, you can simply order from Alliance Healthcare in your usual manner. These products will be available on a same day delivery service.

If you would like to discuss these changes in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact your Alliance Healthcare Account Manager.

Class 4 Drug (Caution in use) - SmofKabiven Central emulsion for Infusion

Fresenius Kabi Limited have identified an error on the infusion bag packaged into the above batches. In the energy content section printed onto the bag the amount of carbohydrates (glucose anhydrous) has been incorrectly declared as 150g, the actual amount is 125g.

MHRA drug alert link:

https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-4-medicines-defect-information-smofkabiven-central-emulsion-for-infusion-fresenius-kabi-ltd-el-21-a-slash-37?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=5a6a839e-bd5e-40f6-92dd-6c73adf4498f&utm_content=immediately   

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

Further Information

For more information or medical information queries please contact:

Medical.Information-UK@fresenius-kabi.com

If you have any questions, please contact your local Service Centre Customer Services team.

Lateral Flow Test Update – Friday 17 December PM Update

The unprecedented demand for lateral flow test kits from people testing due to the Omicron variant, combined with precautionary testing before the Christmas period continues. By Wednesday evening this week, Alliance Healthcare had almost delivered the entire weeks anticipated volume.

Please see below an important update regarding the lateral flow distribution as part of the Pharmacy Collect service Alliance Healthcare is supporting on behalf of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

This update contains information specific to pharmacy customers in (1) England, and (2) Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

1. England 

Message on behalf of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) 

A UKHSA spokesperson said: 

“We have issued a record number of rapid test kits to people across the country. There has been unprecedented demand for testing this week and around 400,000 test kits have been delivered to people’s homes each day to help combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). 
 

“Over 11 million tests have been distributed this week to pharmacies across the UK, which has doubled from last week.
 

“Today, Friday 17 December, we will be unable to provide some pharmacies with their test allocation and we are working hard to meet demand.
 

“If you have tests at home, we encourage people to use these or order for home delivery on gov.uk"

Further information: 

• – Due to exceptionally high demand, LFD tests are temporarily unavailable at pharmacies.

• – This is due to unprecedented demand from people testing due to the Omicron variant, combined with precautionary testing before the Christmas period.

• – You can find where to get a lateral flow tests kit on gov.uk.

• – We would encourage people to use any tests they may already have at home before ordering online at gov.uk

Posters to support pharmacy communications with patients 

The UKHSA has created a poster for pharmacies to download, print and display on premises, which you can find here. Zero tolerance posters are also available from the CRC as well which you can access here. 

Order information

You are advised to place orders as normal via their usual ordering systems. Orders may take up to three days from order placement to delivery.

Please use pip code 8943995 to place your order which will automatically defer to which ever product is in stock at the time.

You should only order 1 carton per day. Any orders above this quantity will not be supplied. Please continue to order via your normal ordering systems and the myahportal.

2. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 

Due to the latest Government announcements, we have seen high demand for lateral flow tests. Our Coatbridge, Swansea and Belfast Service Centres may be experiencing delays on being able to supply orders. We have adjusted our order levels accordingly to meet any increased demand and stocks should be replenished regularly to meet the demand.

Order information

You are advised to place orders as normal via their usual ordering systems. Orders may take up to three days from order placement to delivery.

You should only order 1 carton per day. Any orders above this quantity will not be supplied. Please continue to order via your normal ordering systems and the myahportal (myahportal.co.uk).

3. Thank you

Alliance Healthcare would like to take this opportunity to thank community pharmacy and the NHS for its incredible efforts in the fight against COVID-19; to date, Alliance Healthcare UK has delivered over 200 million lateral flow kits to pharmacy across the UK. 

Message from the Pharmacy Collect team at UKHSA: 

"We would like to thank all staff at Alliance for their ongoing efforts to help distribute test kits on our behalf. We recognise that at times it can be challenging dealing with difficult calls and queries and want to acknowledge the hard work that all staff, such as people working in the warehouse, call centre and drivers, are doing to help the efforts in the fight against Covid." 

Alliance Healthcare UK to enter into a solus wholesale agreement with Organon UK: 1st February 2022

We are pleased to announce that, as of 1st February 2022, Alliance Healthcare UK will become the only wholesaler to supply the Organon UK product portfolio to all pharmacies, hospitals and dispensing doctors in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The majority of the Organon UK portfolio has now been divested from MSD as of June 2021.

If you have any queries, please speak to your Alliance Healthcare Account Manager.

Alliance Healthcare UK and Alloga UK celebrated for ‘Outstanding Response to COVID’

Alliance Healthcare and Alloga in the UK were the proud recipients of the Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Response to COVID at the Logistics UK Awards 2021. 

The onset of COVID-19 meant quick thinking and rapid action to ensure the supply of medicines to the NHS and UK patients did not falter. Colleagues from across Alliance Healthcare and Alloga worked tirelessly to ensure the stock of medicines was maintained across the UK.

This special award was open to an individual or organisation who demonstrated an outstanding response to the pandemic in 2020 within the logistics sector.  To enter this award, the company had to demonstrate how it led a class-leading response to COVID-19, how this was achieved and the outcome that followed.

Marie Evans, who was recently announced as Alliance Healthcare’s new Managing Director, said: “I am delighted that our business and team of 6,000 colleagues have been recognised at this level for our contribution to the fight against COVID-19. Our main aim over this unprecedented period is to support the NHS, pharmacy and all UK patients, and this award is true recognition for all of that hard work and dedication.”

Chris Williams, Managing Director at Alloga UK, added: “It is fantastic news that the joint efforts of the Alloga and Alliance Healthcare UK teams has been recognised with this special award from Logistics UK. Significant efforts were and are still required to increase the overall level of responsiveness to support the NHS and the patients that they serve.

“I am very proud of the tireless efforts of our colleagues who have generated exceptional results supporting the fight against COVID-19.”

Lateral Flow Tests Update

Alliance Healthcare supports the Government's Pharmacy Collect scheme and its efforts to support UK patients in the fight against COVID-19. Due to the latest Government announcements we have seen high demand for lateral flow tests. We can confirm that some Alliance Healthcare Service Centres may be experiencing delays on being able to supply orders. 

We have adjusted our order levels accordingly to meet any increased demand and stocks should be replenished within the next 24-48 hours. Community pharmacy can only order 1 carton per day and should arrive within three days as part of normal Alliance Healthcare deliveries. In some areas, to alleviate the high volumes, some orders may arrive via Parcel Force, within a five day window. Pharmacy stores should continue to order in the same way via our ordering portal myahportal.

Company Led Recall - VITAMIN D3 DROPS

A quality issue has recently been identified in relation to the dispensing method used in the Vitamin D3 Drops for infants

MHRA drug alert link: N/A   

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.

If you have any questions, then please contact your local Service Centre Customer Services team.

CLASS 2 RECALL - MYDRILATE EY/D 0.5%

Intrapharm Laboratories Ltd are recalling the below batch of Mydrilate 0.5 % Eye Drops 5ml as a precautionary measure due to out of specification results for related substances obtained during stability testing

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-2-medicines-recall-intrapharm-laboratories-ltd-mydrilate-0-dot-5-percent-eye-drops-5ml-el-21-a-slash-35?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=ae9c5b07-b1e0-4f64-bd26-24f1907b748f&utm_content=immediately

Further Information

For more information or medical information queries, please contact: Redline Pharmacovigilance, email: medinfo@intrapharmlabs.com, Contact number: 0330 1359 437

For stock control queries, please contact: Lauren Johnson, Commercial Affairs Manager, Intrapharm Laboratories Ltd, email: Lauren.Johnson@riemser.com; Landline: 01628 771800.

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.

If you have any questions, then please contact your local Service Centre Customer Services team.

Alliance Healthcare UK appoints Marie Evans as new Managing Director

Alliance Healthcare UK, the leading wholesaler of healthcare products, has announced that from today, Marie Evans will be its new Managing Director. Marie, who is Alliance Healthcare UK’s current Commercial and Category Director, brings a wealth of customer, leadership and retail experience to the role. Marie said, “I am delighted to be appointed Managing Director at Alliance Healthcare UK. In the ten years I have spent here, I have seen our business grow to become the major wholesaler and distributor in the UK.  That success is down to our terrific team and the unwavering commitment we have shown to strive to meet the needs of our customers and patients.”

Marie will report to Juan Guerra, Alliance Healthcare’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director of International Wholesale. Juan Guerra said, “The last 18 months has shown just how important wholesale and distribution is to the NHS and I am so excited to welcome Marie to her new position at this critical time. Her experience and leadership will be key as we continue to evolve our services in response to the changing needs of pharmacy, the health service, and industry.

Marie will succeed Julian Mount, who has made the decision to leave after five years in charge. As part of a planned transition Julian will remain as an Executive Advisor, supporting Marie in her role.   

“During Julian’s time in charge, Alliance Healthcare has continued its growth as a significant provider of valued services to the NHS and UK healthcare industry, along the way he has transformed our relations with upstream and downstream customers and the UK Government, and introduced Alliance Healthcare’s new digital platform” said Juan Guerra, “I thank Julian for his commitment and contribution and wish him well.”