Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Panel approves compounding pharmacy oversight bill The Lowell Sun Updated: 07/09/2013 12:19:31 PM EDT Read more: http://www.lowellsun.com/vervebreakingnewsfeed/ci_23625711/panel-approves-compounding-pharmacy-oversight-bill#ixzz2YZds15Ta


By Andy Metzger
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
BOSTON -- Legislation aimed at strengthening oversight of the state's compounding pharmacies, one of whose fungus-infected steroids caused 61 deaths across the country, moved out of committee Tuesday after months of review.
The Joint Committee on Public Health voted 5-2 for favorable action on the 15-page legislation, and the bill will now "most likely" head to the House Committee on Ways and Means, according to House Chairman Jeffrey Sanchez, a Jamaica Plain Democrat. With Democratic legislative leaders focused on passing a state budget and tax-raising bills, it's unclear when or if the bill will reach either branch.
Last fall, health officials identified a fungal meningitis outbreak, and traced it to injectable steroids manufactured by New England Compounding Company, a Framingham compounding pharmacy that was licensed to produce small batches of pharmaceuticals for individual patients, but was making drugs wholesale. The outbreak sickened 749 people and killed 61 in 20 states, including New Hampshire and Rhode Island, but not Massachusetts, according to the Centers for Disease Control.


Read more:http://www.lowellsun.com/vervebreakingnewsfeed/ci_23625711/panel-approves-compounding-pharmacy-oversight-bill#ixzz2YZdx8Z1a

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