Page 11 - N&V Winter 2019

blackrock correct that Quinoric® is the least ically by company name (i.e. ‘hydroxy-
If your pharmacist has any difficulty expensive, but as these are generic chloroquine sulphate 200mg - Zentiva
obtaining Blackrock version of generic medications the difference in cost is minimal version only’) then the pharmacist may
hydroxychloroquine, the product description and the other brands are unlikely to be dispense only the specified brand and is
is: “Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate Tablets outside the range of £0.50 - £1.50 more reimbursed for doing so. This
(Blackrock)”. The product information can expensive per pack and are considerably reimbursement is not at the set price listed
be found at www.creopharma.com. Creo cheaper than having to change to in the Drug Tariff and therefore the
Pharma can be contacted at +44 (0)1371 alternative medications for lupus if pharmacy should not make a loss for
822022 for any further information that Quinoric® is not tolerated or the cost of dispensing the item. Additional information
may be required. Pharmacists can access additional drugs needed to treat the side- about prescribing generic medications is
Blackrock Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate effects and the cost of investigations to available at www.sps.nhs.uk/wp-
200mg direct from Alliance Healthcare by assess the side effects. content/uploads/2017/12/uKmi_QA_
quoting ‘PIP number’ (product code) brand-name_prescribing_update_
116-9523. Typically, if a medicine is prescribed by a Nov2017.pdf
generic name (i.e. ‘hydroxychloroquine
what if my pharmacist refuses to 200mg’) the pharmacist may dispense any Our thanks go to Professor Caroline Gordon
dispense my preferred brand of suitable generic or branded product and and Sr Rebecca Gilman (Lupus Research
hydroxychloroquine on the basis would be reimbursed at a set price by the Clinical Nurse Specialist) for their valuable
of cost? NHS according to the Drug Tariff. contributions to the provision of this
We have been informed by some people Pharmacists would generally aim to dispense information.
that their pharmacy is either unable, or one of the less expensive products available If you continue to experience any issues
refuses to dispense either the Zentiva or so that they receive more profit from this obtaining the hydroxychloroquine tablets
Blackrock versions of hydroxychloroquine tariff and avoid any potential losses that you need, please keep us updated by
on the basis that they are more expensive According to UK Medicines Information emailing paul@lupusuk.org.uk or calling
than Quinoric®. We understand that it is (UKMi) if a medicine is prescribed specif- 01708 731251.

Make Lupus Visible Campaign for

Lupus Awareness Month 2019

This October for Lupus Awareness Month we LUPUS UK in your posts or send any content you
are encouraging people to MAKE LUPUS would like us to share to paul@lupusuk.org.uk
VISIBLE! As we know, for many people lupus This year’s Lupus Awareness Month Poster was
presents with few or no visible symptoms designed by Emily Mead, a designer and
making it difficult for other people to illustrator living in Romford. Emily is a graduate
understand the impact it can have. We of Plymouth University after studying BA (Hons)
want to share stories, experiences, photos Illustration and kindly offered to volunteer her
and videos from people affected by skills to our charity as her mum has lupus. We
lupus to help people see it. are extremely grateful for the time and effort
If you are active on social media then that Emily has contributed to this project.
we would encourage you to use the
hashtags #makelupusvisible and You can follow Emily on Instagram:
#lupusAwarenessmonth. Please tag @illustrator_emz www.emilymead.com

Your Health, Your Choice - www.nhs.uk

launched in 2007 the official website of the National Health service now has more than 43 million visits per month.
The NHs website is the uK's biggest health website, accounting for a quarter of all health-related web traffic.
Striving to be a world-leading winning, comprehensive health information Social media is an important part of the
multichannel service for everyone service. There are thousands of freely website service, reaching up to 3 million
engaging with the NHS and social care. available articles, videos, tools and apps people a month via Facebook, Twitter and
The NHS website provides an award- to help you make the best choices about video channels such as YouTube.
your health and wellbeing, as well as
making the most of NHS and social care Information on the site is freely available
services in England. to everyone, and content is syndicated to
more than 600 partner websites, including
The service search www.nhs.uk/service- over 200 NHS organisations, Boots,
search/ helps you find, choose and Mumsnet and Microsoft.
compare health, support and social care
services in England; also publishing reviews The NHS website is funded by the
and ratings across health and social care Department of Health and Social Care
services. Where possible, offering online (DHSC). The content, data and services on
transactional services that should make the website are commissioned by NHS
268C
your interaction with the NHS much simpler. England and delivered by NHS Digital.
9
luPus uK NEWS & VIEWS SUMMER 2019