Understanding Digital Health Digital health is a broad term that includes a wide range of technologies used to monitor, analyze, and improve human health. Key components include: Electronic Health Records (EHRs) Mobile health (mHealth) applications Telemedicine platforms Wearable devices (like Fitbits or Apple Watches) Artificial Intelligence (AI) in diagnostics and treatment Genomics and personalized medicine … Read more
Understanding the Traditional Drug Development Pipeline To fully understand the impact AI has on drug development, it’s important to understand how the conventional process works: Target identification and validation – Determining the biological target (e.g., protein or gene) associated with a disease. Hit discovery – Screening thousands to millions of compounds to find “hits” that … Read more
The Rise of Robotics in Healthcare Before getting into the specifics of robotics in pharmacy, it’s important to understand the broader trend of robotics in healthcare. Robotics has been used in a variety of medical fields, including surgery, rehabilitation, diagnostics, and hospital logistics. In pharmacy, however, its application has been particularly impactful due to the … Read more
What Are Automated Dispensing Systems? Automated dispensing systems (ADS) are computer-controlled storage and distribution units designed to manage medications efficiently and safely. These systems are typically integrated with pharmacy and hospital information systems to automate the process of medication dispensing, maintain accurate inventory records, and enhance patient safety. In simple terms, ADSs function like high-tech … Read more
However, unprecedented scientific progress also comes with numerous regulatory challenges. Traditional frameworks designed for one-size-fits-all medicines often fall short when applied to personalized interventions or gene-based therapies. As the pace of innovation continues to increase, regulators are grappling with how to ensure safety and efficacy without stifling innovation. This article explores the key regulatory challenges … Read more
When a drug is approved by a regulatory body like the FDA, it is cleared for use based on rigorous clinical trials that demonstrate its safety and efficacy for a specific use, in a specified population, and at a specified dose. Any use that deviates from these parameters is considered off-label. Off-label drug use can … Read more
Clinical trials are the backbone of evidence-based medicine, ensuring that new medicines are safe and effective before they reach patients. The integrity, safety, and efficacy of these trials rely heavily on a strong regulatory framework. These regulations guide how trials are designed, approved, monitored, and reported, creating a global standard for drug development. What Are … Read more
The journey from the lab bench to the pharmacy shelf is long, complex, and strictly regulated. Drug development involves years of research, rigorous testing and significant investment. However even the most promising compounds cannot reach patients without passing the test of regulatory approval. Why Regulation Matters Regulation of drugs is essential to ensuring that medications … Read more
Pharmacy laws and regulation vary considerably from country to country, but they share similar goals: protecting public health, ensuring drug safety, and maintaining ethical standards in the practice of pharmacy. This article will explore the fundamental aspects of pharmacy laws and regulations, focusing on key topics such as licensing, prescription management, medication scheduling, and ethical … Read more