Codeine critic misquotes
November 9, 2015
Victorian pain specialist
Dr Michael Vagg’s arguments
for upscheduling of products
containing codeine from OTC to
prescription (PD Fri) are based on
misquoted references to a study
published in the Medical Journal of
Australia, according to a Pharmacy
Guild of Australia spokesperson.
Vagg made reference to Trends
and characteristics of accidental
and intentional codeine overdose
deaths in Australia, in the
September issue of the MJA, but
quoted the study as saying “there
was actually a doubling in codeine
related deaths between 2000-2013”.
An accurate reading of the study
reveals the comparative death
figures only extended to 2009 - an
important distinction, the Guild
says, because there were changes
to codeine schedules and pack sizes
in 2010 which may have affected
subsequent years’ statistics.
The Guild has made very strong
representation to the Health
Department in its submission
relating to the up-scheduling plan,
saying it is a “blunt instrument to
address misuse and abuse of these
medicines” (PD 22 Oct) which is
likely to increase MBS and PBS
costs significantly.
The positive alternative proposal
from the Guild is the urgent
implementation of a mandatory
real-time online recording of
codeine dispensing.
Such a system has been developed
by the Guild in partnership with the
Australian Self Medication Industry
(ASMI) and would be ready to
implement within 12 months, the
Guild said, calling for a moratorium
on the S4 move in the meantime.
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