Adjudication of new community pharmacies: comparison of ranking criteria

This article studies the differences between the models of candidate classification for the adjudication of new pharmacies in the different Spanish self-governing regions. The objective of this study is to analyze the profile of the selected professional. Generally, the ranking takes into account the professional activity as pharmacist, the pre-graduate formation as well as the postgraduate, with different weights. Some of the 15 autonomies include as merits the cooficial languages, an optional written test and special situations as unemployment. In general, the criteria try to find out the best profile of pharmacist based on the professional experience and the postgraduate formation

Potential impact of European decisions and reports in pharmacy planning in Spain

Currently there are several cases in the field of the European Union regarding Spanish legislation on private pharmacy planning. The first of these cases was initiated by issuing a reasoned opinion by the European Commission on 28 June 2006. The second approach has taken place through the various preliminary questions raised before the Court of Justice of the European Communities by certain Spanish courts. Although not all of the above procedures have been completed, certain European pronouncements do provide what might be the consequences that they may have on the Spanish legislation on the subject. It is very likely that the binomial property-ownership in favor of pharmacists and planning criteria established in the Spanish regulations is considered compatible with European law. On the contrary, it is feasible that certain aspects of the merit scales applied by the Autonomous Communities for awarding newly authorized community pharmacies must be changed

Nortriptyline hydrochloride skin absorption: development of a transdermal patch

[EN] The influence of propylen glycol (PG), ethanol, and oleic acid (OA) on nortriptyline hydrochloride (NTH) penetration through human epidermis was studied in vitro at two different pH values (5.5 and 7.4). The influence of lactic acid and polysorbate 80 was studied for a pH of 5.5. Permeation studies through Heat Separated Epidermis, as well as the enhancing effect of the different vehicles, showed a pH dependency. A pH value of 5.5 in the donor solution decreases significantly the permeability coefficient (Kp) with respect to a pH value of 7.4 (0.011+/-0.004 x 10(-6) versus 0.36+/-0.04 x 10(-6)cm/s). The vehicles showed an increasing enhancement effect in the order: polysorbate 80>ethanol/PG/OA>PG>ethanol>ethanol/lactic acid>lactic acid at pH 5.5 while they reduced the permeation of NTH at pH 7.4. Considering the results obtained at pH 5.5, the maximum enhancement ratios were found for polysorbate 80 and the combination ethanol/PG/OA (10.72 and 3.90). Both vehicles were selected for designing a NTH transdermal delivery system (NTH-TDS) using (hydroxypropyl)methyl-cellulose as polymer. The NTH-TDS based on the combination of ethanol/PG/OA showed an enhancement ratio with respect to control of 2.09 and the addition of polysorbate 80 to the matrix, of 5.82.The Galenos Network-Marie Curie-Fellowship agreement in the framework of the EU Project "Towards a European Ph.D. in Advanced Drug Delivery" MESTCT-2004-504992. Funds were received from the Generalitat Valenciana (GV06-163). The authors thank Dr. Javier Pascual (Hospital 9 Octubre, Valencia) and Dr. Karl-Heinz Kostka (Caritas Krankenhaus, Lebach) for providing the human skin samples.Melero, A.; Garrigues, T.; Almudéver-Folch, P.; Martín Villodre, A.; Lehr, C.; Schäfer, U. (2008). Nortriptyline hydrochloride skin absorption: development of a transdermal patch. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics. 69(2):588-596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2007.11.01258859669

Shortages and irregular supply of medicines: an urgent problem.

Actualmente en el Estado español se están produciendo problemas en el suministro de medicamentos a los servicios farmacéuticos. En el presente artículo se revisa la normativa vigente acerca de la distribución de medicamentos. Se comentan además las posibles causas del problema. También se analizan los medios que desarrolla el Estado para evitar esta problemática y la postura de la Comunidad Valenciana que, de manera pionera, quiere regular en materia de distribución farmacéutica, mediante una normativa con rango de Ley, para evitar los problemas que se suscitan.In this paper, we discuss the problems arising from the current supply problems of medicines to pharmacy outlets in Spain, as well as a revision of present regulations governing their distribution. In addition to the possible causes, an analysis of the measures developed by the state to combat these problems has been made, as well as an assessment of the impact of new pioneering legislation passed by the regional government of Valencia, aimed at fi nding a solution