Pharmacists and industry unite in parliament to champion quality use of medicines
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and Consumer Healthcare Products Australia (CHP Australia) came together at the Australian Parliament House on Tuesday 7 October to highlight their shared commitment to improving medicines safety and promoting the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) across Australia. Pharmacists play a vital role in helping Australians use prescription and non-prescription medicines safely and effectively, supported by a consumer healthcare industry that empowers people to make informed self-care decisions.
The Self-Care Opportunity Report shows three in five Australians (58%) rely on pharmacist advice about non-prescription medicines. Yet one in four (25%) do not know what an active ingredient is, and over half (54%) don’t keep an up-to-date medicines list.
Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS, National President of PSA said pharmacists were essential to ensuring medicines safety and equitable access to care.
“Quality use of medicines and medicines safety is Australia’s 10th National Health Priority Area,” she said. “Medicines are used in every part of our health system. Every day, pharmacists play an irreplaceable role in promoting the safe and effective use of medicines and vaccines. As the government-recognised national peak body representing all 41,000 registered pharmacists in Australia and the signatory to the Strategic Agreement on Pharmacist Professional Practice with the Australian Government, the PSA is committed to supporting the workforce to deliver high quality professional care.”
CHP Australia CEO, Judy Stenmark, said the partnership highlighted the role of collaboration in improving health literacy and supporting consumer self-care.
“Over-the-counter and non-prescription medicines and products play a vital role in helping Australians manage their health and wellbeing,” she said. “By partnering with PSA, we are helping ensure consumers have access to accurate information and professional support to use these products safely and effectively, across a wide range of medical and community settings.”
Together, PSA and CHP Australia are driving a national conversation about the Quality Use of Medicines, championing the vital role of pharmacists and the consumer healthcare industry in keeping Australians safe and well. By combining their expertise in professional practice, education and consumer engagement, the two organisations are calling for continued collaboration across government and the health sector to put medicines safety and informed self-care at the heart of Australia’s healthcare future.
