THE $4.7 billion complementary medicines industry is "not going away, no matter how much its detractors huff and puff," according to Pharmacy Guild executive director David Quilty.
His statement was part of a Guild response to Mon night's ABC Four Corners program, with Quilty saying the show and the associated CHOICE 'mystery shop' highlighted the importance of community pharmacy in advising patients on all aspects of medicines.
"At the Guild we believe it is essential that consumers have access to objective, informed advice about complementary medicines, and by far the best place to obtain that advice is at a community pharmacy," he said.
"The constructive message to emerge from the Four Corners program was that the evidence base and labelling of therapeutic products are areas where we can improve our already world class regulatory system," Quilty added.
The Guild welcomed an indication by newly appointed Health Minister Greg Hunt this week, who said the government planned legislation in the second half of the year "to make it absolutely clear that the standards are what are claimed".
Quilty also noted key findings from the CHOICE 'mystery shop' which saw visits to 240 pharmacies by consumers who approached the dispensing counter and asked for advice on dealing with stress, with various products recommended.
CHOICE's conclusions included: "To be fair to the pharmacists, they were confronted with a customer prepared to purchase something to help them -- it could be argued that by directing the customer to a product that the pharmacist believes might help, or at least do no harm, the customer would be better off than if they'd chosen a random product themselves."
Quilty said "the overwhelming majority of community pharmacists are motivated by genuine care and a desire to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients, based on evidence and transparency".
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 16 Feb 17
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 16 Feb 17