On the evening of April 11, PSS hosted an Appreciation Dinner at the Alumni Association to pay tribute to our members who have volunteered their energy, ideas, time and dedication to the various committees and workgroups.

In the recently concluded SingHealth Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) 2008, our fellow pharmacy colleagues had a field day after winning 3 out of 4 Awards of open for competition in the Allied Health categories.

The Straits Times, April 26, 2008

Tighter rein needed on doctors
By Lee Wei Ling 

OVER the years, it seems that more and more doctors are behaving unethically The recent publicity over aesthetic medicine illustrates this trend.

The concerns over questionable practices range from purely monetary gains to monetary gains with (in extreme cases) possible risk of harm to the patient.

Questionable behaviour is more difficult to control in the private sector because each doctor deals independently with patients. In the public sector, unethical behaviour is more likely to be detected by colleagues who may blow the whistle.

One concern is the sale of medicines directly to patients with a significant mark-up in prices. Some doctors may charge relatively little for consultations and make money from the sale of medicine.

The Straits Times, April 24, 2008

WASHINGTON - RESEARCHERS said they had identified a chemical contaminating the blood-thinner heparin from China and also shown how it could cause a sometimes fatal allergic reaction in people.
The contaminant is oversulfated chondroitin sulfate, the researchers said, confirming earlier US Food and Drug Administration findings.

It appears to activate two inflammatory pathways, causing severe allergic reactions and low blood pressure, Ram Sasisekharan of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and colleagues reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The Straits Times March 7, 2008

Each patient can save up to $2k under TTSH scheme, where pharmacists monitor dosage of wafarin
By Lee Hui Chieh 

A PROGRAMME that sees pharmacists monitor warded patients on a tricky-to-control blood-thinning drug has helped many people go home early and avoid costly bills, according to medical professionals.
The scheme, which began last year, has slashed hospital stays by half for patients on the medication, called wafarin, at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).

The drug is notoriously difficult to manage and patients spend the bulk of their time in hospital waiting for doctors to find the correct dosage.

The Straits Times, April 1, 2008

Use the drugs, also available in Singapore, only as last resort: Experts

CHICAGO - TWO of the world's best-selling drugs to lower cholesterol might have no benefit, researchers have reported, a development that could alter significantly how patients are treated for heart disease.
Based on the news, a top medical journal has encouraged doctors to stop prescribing them routinely.

Vytorin and a related drug, Zetia, did not reduce fatty plaque in arteries any more than a generic, researchers at a cardiology conference in Chicago said on Sunday.

The Straits Times, April 11, 2008

Cholesterol drugs: Ask doc before dropping them

WE ARE concerned that the report, 'Two top cholesterol drugs may have no benefits' (April 1), may lead patients to stop taking their medications without first checking with their doctors. The article referred to Vytorin and Zetia.
Vytorin comprises 'Simvastatin' and 'Ezetemibe' combined, while Ezetimibe on its own is marketed as Zetia in the United States or Ezetrol in Singapore.

The Straits Times, April 17, 2008

WASHINGTON - DRUGMAKER Merck & Co manipulated public opinion on its blockbuster pain pill Vioxx by paying high-profile doctors to add their names to scientific reports drafted by others, according to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The article, based on documents unearthed in lawsuits over Vioxx, provides a look into the industry practice of ghostwriting medical research studies that are then published in academic journals.

After 44 years since the inception and foundation of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Association (FAPA), the organization has made tremendous strides to become one of the largest groupings for pharmacists across Asia.

PSS President, Mr. Ng Cheng Tiang exchanging signed copy of MOU with FAPA President, Dr. Soo Ja Nam