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France: Alphega Pharmacie strengthens its commitment to supporting obese and diabetic patients
11 June 2007Alphega Pharmacie, Alliance Healthcare France's network of independent pharmacists, has reaffirmed its commitment to serving the needs of obese and diabetic patients. It now offers its members support for the launch of Acomplia®, sanofi-aventis's new medication developed to treat obese patients and those with type 2 diabetes.
A widespread support programme has been launched to assist pharmacists and their teams in advising patients on how best to take this speciality drug. The aims are: to ensure that the medication is prescribed in the right way for the right patient; to remain vigilant for any possible side-effects, and to ensure that the drug is supplied alongside advice on healthy living.
Alphega Pharmacie is offering a comprehensive service including, in particular:
- a dedicated extranet site comprising a professional hotline accessible to those in the profession, and a discussion forum open to all pharmacists who wish to ask questions relating to Acomplia® or to receive feedback on provision of the product in pharmacies.
- a guide with practical details for distributing to pharmacists and Alphega Pharmacie sales outlets, aimed at providing a better understanding of this new type of medication and its key technical characteristics.
- a medication logbook, drawn up in partnership with sanofi-aventis for distribution to patients.
- information-sharing and training evenings on diabetes and obesity.
This extensive campaign forms part of the protection, ethical and advisory roles that Alphega Pharmacie provides to its members.
The independent pharmacists' network has for several years been involved in providing support for diabetes patients, and has made this initiative one of its priorities for 2007/2008 (with training workshops, educational tools, pharmacy pre-screening tests, etc.). This offering takes into account today's environment - in which pharmacists are gaining an enhanced role in prescribing and giving advice on ever-more-complex products.
