NABP e-News: January 21, 2009

January 21, 2009 12:00 AM

NABP Launches Vet-VIPPS to Provide Accreditation of Online Veterinary Pharmacies
To further its efforts to protect the public from illegitimate online pharmacies, NABP has launched the Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites^™ (Vet-VIPPS^™) program, which serves as a means to evaluate and accredit legitimately operating online veterinary pharmacy practice sites that dispense medications for companion animals as well as non-food producing animals and to ensure a patient/client relationship exists. Read more in the January 9, 2009 news release.

Ohio Adopts Law Establishing Minimum Standards for Pharmacy Technicians
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland signed a new state law on January 7, 2009, establishing minimum education and training standards for Ohio pharmacy technicians. Known as Emily's Law, the statute requires pharmacy technicians to have a high school diploma or equivalent, submit to a criminal background check, and pass a pharmacy proficiency examination, USA Today reported on January 8. Technicians also would be required to wear technician identification while at work. Violations could result in criminal penalties for both technicians and their employers. The law is named for Emily Jerry, who died in March 2006 after a pharmacy technician at a Cleveland children’s hospital incorrectly prepared her intravenous medication. The hospital pharmacist failed to detect the error.

Pharmacy Technicians in Kentucky Must Register with Board by April
Beginning April 1, 2009, all individuals assisting in the practice of pharmacy in the state of Kentucky must be registered with the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy as pharmacy technicians, pursuant to KRS 315.135. Those who are currently registered with the Board as pharmacist interns, however, need not be registered as pharmacy technicians. Online registration for pharmacy technicians is available on the Board’s Web site. This registration will expire on March 31, 2010.

FDA Expands Warning to Consumers about Tainted Weight Loss Pills
On January 8, 2009, Food and Drug Administration expanded its nationwide alert to consumers about tainted weight loss pills that contain undeclared, active pharmaceutical ingredients. On December 22, 2008, FDA warned consumers not to purchase or consume 28 different products marketed for weight loss. Since that time, FDA analysis has identified 41 more tainted weight loss products that may put consumers’ health at risk. The complete list of drugs is available on the FDA Web site.

USP Transfers MEDMARX and MERP Reporting Programs
In a decision to focus full attention and resources on its core standards-setting activities, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) announced that it would transfer its reporting programs, MEDMARX^® and the Medication Errors Reporting Program (MERP), to Quantros and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), respectively. USP stated in a news release that it will continue to use data from these and other programs “to enhance its standards-setting activities to promote patient safety and safe medication use.”

Ten Additional Facilities Awarded VAWD Accreditation
NABP recently accredited 10 additional facilities through its Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors^® (VAWD^®) program, bringing the total number of accredited facilities to 306 as of January 9, 2009. A full listing of VAWD facilities is available under Accreditation Programs on the NABP Web site.

• Cutis Pharma, Inc, develops and distributes drug products and technologies used in the compounding of prescription products. The company received accreditation for its Woburn, MA facility.
• Direct Relief International collects and distributes donated medical goods to charitable health care institutions and organizations throughout the world. The company received accreditation for its Goleta, CA facility.
• McKesson Corporation, dba McKesson Drug Company, distributes prescription medications, medical supplies, and over-the-counter products to pharmacies, hospitals, and national accounts. The company received accreditation for the following three facilities:
  • Livonia, MI
  • Memphis, TN
  • LaVista, NE
• Metro Medical Supply, Inc, specializes in providing renal care supplies to customers in the western states. The company received accreditation for its Reno, NV facility.
• Midwest Veterinary Supply, Inc, provides pharmaceutical products to more than 9,000 veterinary clinics in more than 28 states. The company received accreditation for its Burnsville, MN facility.
• PSS World Medical, Inc, dba Physician Sales & Service, operates as a regional distributor of prescription drug products and medical supplies to hospitals and clinics. The company received accreditation for the following t wo facilities:
  • Rogers, MN
  • Elgin, IL
• Schering Plough Animal Health Corporation is the main distributor for the Schering-Plough Corporation’s domestic veterinary medicine operations. The company received accreditation for its Omaha, NE facility.