AMA opposes S3 ad calls
January 28, 2014
The Australian Medical
Association (AMA) has opposed
the calls for a relaxation of the
restrictions on advertising of
pharmacy only (S3) medicines.
AMA president Dr Steve
Hambleton said there were good
reasons for the restrictions,
including a lack of knowledge, the
Medical Observer reported.
“If you have a cold and buy
Lemsip and then have a headache
and take Panadeine you can
have an overdose situation
because people don’t realise that
paracetamol is in both products.”
Dr Hambleton said the AMA did
not want to see any changes.
“We do need a trained health
professional to make sure that
people are not getting important
medicines mixed up and
pharmacists have an important role
in interviewing people.”
A study sponsored by ASMI
revealed that common minor
ailments take up to 7% of GP
consultation time which over the
course of a year amounts to the
equivalent of 1,000 GP’s working
full time, the publication reported.
The Guild has consistently stated
that, “We support measures which
emphasise the importance of
seeking the advice of pharmacists
in relation to the quality use of all
medicines” (PD 24 Jan).
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