Editorial: Lookin', Learnin', and Lobbyin' at CCH 2008

Starting with a Welcoming Reception tomorrow evening (Saturday), the program gets into full swing Sunday morning with continuing education programs all day long. Sunday ends with the Rx Mixer with the theme of "Heroes and Heroines," a lively and entertaining evening. Continuing education continues all day Monday. Tuesday is the day for visits on the Hill following a breakfast buffet and presentations on preparing legislative strategies for the congressional appointments of the day. The meeting closes with the Potomac River Dinner Cruise Tuesday evening�a full but enjoyable and productive program.

Educational programming involves regulatory and litigation updates (from those intimately involved in these activities), marketing methods and opportunities, the challenges of change, adverse event reporting and medication error tracking, personnel matters, editorial comments, PCAB, potency standards, and USP Chapter <795> (with an emphasis on documentation) and "Compounders on Capitol Hill 101," a great educational lineup!

Much of the value obtained from these meetings comes from the interaction with other pharmacists and the interaction with congressional personnel (senators, representatives, and staffers). An added value is the interaction with exhibitors and leaders in the profession.

If you're attending, we'll see you there; if you're not attending, hopefully you can attend next year�it's time and money well-spent!


Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh

Express Scripts pays $9.5 million to end litigation in 28 states
This settlement is to resolve claims that it deceived consumers by persuading physicians to switch patients' cholesterol drugs under the guise of reducing costs.
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-pbm0528.artmay28,0,3829765.story

FDA to open three offices in China
- if China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs approves the plan. The FDA is also looking into opening a similar office in India for drugs, as well as putting inspectors in Central America, a leading supplier of food products for the U.S.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-te.leavitt24may24,0,3460891.story

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce issued a letter to food-testing labs suggesting that companies might have persuaded the labs to withhold or discard test results of tainted food, thus allowing importers to get their foods into the U.S.
FDLI Smartbrief  Wed May 27 11:26 AM
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-tainted-foodmay27,0,3491844.story

Some airlines will soon start charging for checked baggage. An example is $15 for the first bag, $25 for the second bag, and $100 for each additional bag. Packing smart can save you money when you travel!

IJPC supplies this list of providers of products required to remain USP Chapter <797> compliant as a service to our readers. We strongly urge you to support our current advertisers and supporters. In next week's newsletter, the resource directory will feature cleanroom modules.

Thus far, our newsletters have featured the following products:

Cable Labels!
Use labels for both ends of all cables to aid in tracing down problems and replacing cables. Also, it is good practice to label voltage adaptors with the name of the equipment for which it is used. This will save time in the future.