pharmacies

Bipartisan momentum is building in Washington against pharmacy benefit managers, the middlemen who negotiate drug prices and have been blamed for soaring prescription costs. Lawmakers from both parties are pushing for greater oversight and potential reforms of the industry, a rare area of common ground in a divided Congress.

German media report that a bailiff has carried out a seizure against the online pharmacy DocMorris over unpaid fines. The enforcement action, covered by WELT, highlights the company's dispute with German authorities over penalties it has refused to pay. The case raises questions about how far authorities can go in enforcing fines against a large cross-border mail-order pharmacy.

In France, discussion around vaccination is focused on rules allowing pharmacists to prescribe and administer vaccines, with professional obligations outlined by health authorities. The topic covers both seasonal flu vaccination and Covid-19 booster campaigns. Interest appears tied to the ongoing vaccination season and questions about how pharmacy-based vaccination will work for patients and healthcare professionals.

Germany marks the Day of German Unity, its national holiday commemorating reunification in 1990, this Saturday. In Bonn, many residents are checking which shops stay open despite the public holiday. The General-Anzeiger Bonn reports where people can still shop that day, as regular stores generally close on the holiday, leaving pharmacies, bakeries and petrol stations among the limited options.

Boots has announced a major change to its vaccination services for people aged over 65, taking effect from October 1. The pharmacy chain is preparing its autumn vaccine rollout, likely covering seasonal flu jabs and COVID-19 boosters for older and higher-risk groups. The announcement is drawing wide attention in the UK as people look to book appointments ahead of the winter season, with the story also gaining traction in the US.

Retailer GIANT has broadened its nutrition and pharmacy services for customers using GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes medications. The expanded support is aimed at helping shoppers manage diet and medication needs as demand for GLP-1 drugs continues to grow across the retail pharmacy sector.

Americans are getting their 2026 Covid vaccines alongside flu shots, with some available free at Kroger-affiliated pharmacies. One recipient noted that with so much else happening in the country and the world, it is unclear whether people are still paying attention to Covid. The item highlights how routine seasonal vaccination has become, receiving little of the attention it once did.

Netmeds, the Indian online pharmacy, is promoting a 30% discount on first medicine orders for new customers. The offer is being widely circulated and has drawn large engagement as people share the deal for purchasing prescription and over-the-counter medicines online. It comes as online pharmacies continue competing aggressively to attract first-time buyers with steep introductory discounts.

A US social media user is advising Americans without health insurance to check GoodRx for discount codes before paying for a Covid vaccine. They warn that walk-up prices at pharmacies can be dramatically inflated compared with the discounted rate, sometimes even for people who do have coverage.

Giant Co., the US grocery retailer, is broadening its well-being services tailored to customers using GLP-1 weight-loss medications. The expanded offerings are aimed at supporting shoppers on drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy with nutrition guidance and related in-store and pharmacy resources. The move reflects how grocers are racing to serve the fast-growing population of Americans taking GLP-1 treatments.

High street pharmacy chain Boots is reportedly closing in on a £7 billion sale to Canada's Weston family, according to reports. The deal would end years of uncertainty over the ownership of the retailer, which has been put up for sale by its current owners, Associated British Foods. The Weston family already has longstanding ties to the business.

CVS has agreed to pay $20.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit over its digital privacy practices. Under the settlement, class members may be eligible for payments after the company resolved claims tied to how it handled customer data. The deal, still subject to court approval, closes one of the larger privacy suits brought against a major US pharmacy retailer.

The Alexandria Health Department is no longer offering free COVID-19 and flu tests to residents. The change means people in the Virginia city who want testing will need to rely on at-home kits, pharmacies, or healthcare providers, potentially paying out of pocket. The move follows the broader wind-down of pandemic-era public health funding that had supported free community testing programmes.

Cardinal Health is highlighting efforts to reimagine the retail pharmacy experience for today's consumers, focusing on how community pharmacies can adapt their services and storefronts to changing patient expectations. The discussion centres on pharmacies moving beyond dispensing medication toward broader health and wellness roles, convenience, and personalised care as consumer habits shift.

Americans are searching for flu shot locations as flu season picks up, with local outlets like WECT listing where residents of Brunswick County, North Carolina can get vaccinated. Pharmacies, clinics and health departments are promoting availability, and people are comparing nearby options as cases rise.

Bill's Prescription Center, a pharmacy in the Tampa Bay area, is in the news. Beyond local coverage naming the business, no specific event or development has been confirmed, so the reason it is drawing attention remains unknown.

Amazon and GoodRx are rolling out subscription services aimed at Americans who pay out of pocket for prescriptions, as more people lose or go without health insurance coverage. The move positions the two companies as discount alternatives to traditional pharmacy benefits, and analysts see it as a sign of the shifting US healthcare market.

A data breach at pharmacy benefit manager MedImpact has exposed the personal information of more than 60,000 people connected to Leggett & Platt, according to a report circulating among cybersecurity outlets. The disclosure ties the healthcare firm's incident to employees or members linked to the furniture manufacturer. Details about what data was taken and how the breach occurred remain limited.

People without health insurance are being advised to use GoodRx discount codes to cut the cost of a Covid vaccination. The advice is that pharmacies may quote a high walk-in price, and that a GoodRx code can drop the price dramatically even for those without coverage. It comes as Covid shots are no longer universally free, leaving uninsured Americans to find ways to lower out-of-pocket costs.

Vietnamese pharmacy chain Long Chau and healthcare company Abbott are expanding their Health Journey 2026 initiative to provide digestive health care to the public. The program involves partners including Abbott Vietnam, the Vietnam Young Physicians Association, Long Chau vaccination services and People's Hospital, aiming to broaden access to gastrointestinal health services in Vietnam.

More people are using retail health clinics, typically located inside pharmacies and big-box stores, for routine care such as minor illnesses, vaccinations and screenings. The trend reflects frustrations with long waits and costs at traditional doctors' offices, as convenience-based care becomes a mainstream option for everyday health needs.

Legal analysis is examining how the EU's pharmaceutical legislation reform package treats pharmacy compounding, and what that means for marketing authorisation holders and innovator companies. The guidance highlights how changes to the rules could affect exemptions for compounded medicines, competition from pharmacies, and how manufacturers protect their products' position in the EU market.

Drug distributors Cardinal Health and McKesson have extended their pharmaceutical distribution agreements with CVS Health through 2032, securing their roles in supplying the retail pharmacy chain for years to come. The long-term renewals underline the scale of CVS's supply chain relationships and give the two distributors stable revenue visibility well into the next decade.