Blackmores apologises
October 4, 2011
BLACKMORES has formally
apologised for the “fries and Coke”
comment made by its CEO
Christine Holgate during the launch
of its Companions range, saying it
was unintended and taken out of
context.
In a letter penned to the National
President of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Australia, Grant Kardachi,
Holgate said “The comment I made
in response to a question - that
these are truly companion
products, not alternative medicines
(as many of our products are) - has
unfortunately been used widely in
the media and taken out of context”.
“Any suggestion that this
comment reflects a lack of respect
for Pharmacists and their role in
the community could not be
further from my intent,” she added.
Responding to the apology
Kardachi said it was time to move on.
“The best way to do this is for
pharmacists to continue operating
with their usual high levels of
professionalism and expertise, and
in regard to recommending
complementary medicines to
patients to ensure that those
medicines that are recommended
are evidence based,” he said.
MEANWHILE the TGA has gotten
in on the act, writing to both
Blackmores and the Pharmacy
Guild of Australia seeking
clarification and further details
about the pair’s Companions
partnership.
In addition the NPS has released
information about using specific
nutritional supplements with
prescription medicines, which
covers: zinc supplements with
antihypertensives; co-enzyme Q10
and vitamin D3 with statins;
magnesium supplements with PPI
therapy; and probiotics with
antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.
According to the NPS the
evidence for zinc and magnesium
supplementation is “very limited”
and supplements should only be
considered in cases where there is
a deficiency.
The NPS also said that there was
no clear evidence of benefit in
regards to taking Co-enzyme Q10
supplements with statins to
prevent myalgia; and that there is
not enough evidence to determine
if probiotics can prevent antibioticassociated
diarrhoea.
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