THE Pharmacy Guild says it wants to work constructively with governments to maintain "direct pharmacy access" to medicines containing codeine for the temporary relief of acute pain - despite the up-scheduling of these items effective 01 Feb 2018.
Details of a Guild proposal emerged yesterday, which would see codeine continue to be available under strict conditions.
While normally it would be a prescription-only product, "there would be an exception in these clearly defined circumstances" - that is, for acute pain, in accordance with strict and auditable protocols, and with real time monitoring and referral as necessary to prevent misuse.
"The codeine issue is a vital one for the broader pharmacist profession as, without this exception, pharmacists' role as medicine experts, counsellors and advisors will be undermined," said Guild exec director David Quilty.
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