THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and Consumer Healthcare Products Australia (CHP Australia) joined forces at Parliament House in Canberra earlier this week to demonstrate a shared commitment to improving medicines safety and promoting the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) across Australia.

They highlighted key findings from the new Self-Care Opportunity Report, which showed one in four people (25%) do not know what an active ingredient is, and over half (54%) do not keep an up-to-date medicines list.

National President of the PSA Associate Professor Fei Sim said pharmacists are essential to ensuring medicines safety and equitable access to care.

“Quality use of medicines and medicines safety is Australia’s tenth National Health Priority Area,” she said.

“Medicines are used in every part of our health system, and every day, pharmacists play an irreplaceable role in promoting the safe and effective use of medicines and vaccines.”

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.”

The two organisations are calling for continued collaboration across government and the health sector on medicines safety and informed self-care. KB

Pictured: CHP Australia Chair Phil Lynch, CHP CEO Judy Stenmark, PSA CEO Steve Morris, and PSA National President Fei Sim.

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