ASMI seeks gov’t reform
January 20, 2014
The Australian Self Medication
Industry (ASMI), the peak body
representing sponsors of nonprescription
medicines, is calling
upon the Federal Government to
support its five initiatives aimed
at helping manage the health
challenges of the future while
supporting a responsible and
sustainable industry.
In its 2014-15 Federal Budget
Submission, the organisation has
reminded the government that
its members comprise 85% of
the $4b self-care market, employ
approximately 17,000 people
and export an estimated $600m
annually.
The five initiatives promoted are:
1. Help establish an Australian Self
Care Alliance
2. Implement direct-to-consumer
communication reform wrt
pharmacist-only medicines
3. Establish a best practice
regulatory scheme through the
joint Australia New Zealand
Therapeutic Products Agency
(ANZTPA)
4. Implement appropriate IP
protection provisions for nonprescription
and complementary
medicines
5. Encourage the NHMRC to focus
investment on complementary
medicines research
“Supporting individuals to be
more active and engaged in
managing their own health is an
important dimension to building a
more sustainable healthcare system
for the future,” said ASMI executive
director Deon Schoombie.
“Expanding self care will be the
key driver to promote this shift in
behaviour.
“Working collaboratively, the
Alliance will harness expert opinion
to address some of the critical
issues that impact primary health,
as well as promote policies that
support self care, prevention and
health literacy.”
Schoombie also argued that self
care can reduce the burden on GP
and hospital service saying that US
research has found that for every
$1 spent on over-the-counter (OTC)
medicines, the U.S. healthcare
system saves $6 to $7, providing
$102 billion in value each year.
In March, ASMI will be able
to release Australian research
examining potential healthcare cost
savings that self care can deliver to
our own economy.
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