SAGINAW, MI — The topic of compounding pharmacies have been a
touchy subject for government policy makers since a deadly outbreak of
fungal meningitis in 2012 that was attributed unsanitary conditions at
New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts.
In Michigan, Attorney General Bill Schuette and State Sen. Joe Hune, R-Hamburg, have proposed a new state law that will regulate compounding pharmacies in the state. Federal lawmakers are proposing federal oversight of compounding pharmacies.
Michael Collins is a prescription compounding specialist running Healthway Compounding in Saginaw Township. During a visit on Monday, Oct. 21, by State Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw Township, Collins explained that regulation is sorely lacking under the current system.
"All I had to do is fill out an application form and a self-inspection," he said.
Currently, Collins said there is no federal oversight of Michigan businesses like his, which produce custom medications for individual patients by combining medications or converting pill or tablet medicines to liquid or other preparations. State oversight is provided directly by the state attorney general's office, he said.
Collins said he and other pharmacists believe some oversight is a good thing, though he cautions people not to lump all compounding pharmacies into the same group as places like the now-defunct New England Compounding Center.
He explained that the Massachusetts facility had a variety of sanitation problems that contributed to the outbreak, which in Michigan reached 260 patients and caused 19 deaths.
"There was just a recipe for disaster there," Collins said.
continue to read here
In Michigan, Attorney General Bill Schuette and State Sen. Joe Hune, R-Hamburg, have proposed a new state law that will regulate compounding pharmacies in the state. Federal lawmakers are proposing federal oversight of compounding pharmacies.
Michael Collins is a prescription compounding specialist running Healthway Compounding in Saginaw Township. During a visit on Monday, Oct. 21, by State Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw Township, Collins explained that regulation is sorely lacking under the current system.
"All I had to do is fill out an application form and a self-inspection," he said.
Currently, Collins said there is no federal oversight of Michigan businesses like his, which produce custom medications for individual patients by combining medications or converting pill or tablet medicines to liquid or other preparations. State oversight is provided directly by the state attorney general's office, he said.
Collins said he and other pharmacists believe some oversight is a good thing, though he cautions people not to lump all compounding pharmacies into the same group as places like the now-defunct New England Compounding Center.
He explained that the Massachusetts facility had a variety of sanitation problems that contributed to the outbreak, which in Michigan reached 260 patients and caused 19 deaths.
"There was just a recipe for disaster there," Collins said.
continue to read here
No comments:
Post a Comment