Pharmacy Daily | TGA lauded for label revision

THE Australian Self-Medication Industry has welcomed the TGA’s revised approach to the medicines labelling and packaging review (PD 06 Nov). ASMI had previously expressed its “disappointment” with the original approach taken by the TGA to the review, but the release of the revised review has led the industry body to a more positive stance, saying “this revised approach will lead to appropriate reform and therefore better outcomes for all stakeholders”. Speaking about the revised review ASMI’s Executive Director, Dr Deon Schoombie said “This is the biggest review that the industry has faced in the last 10 years and it is vital that we get it right, given the significant impact it will have on both consumers and the consumer healthcare industry”. “We view this review constructively, but given its importance, we urge a robust, evidence-based approach before proceeding down a potentially expensive and commercially damaging path,” he added. In reference to ASMI’s stance, Schoombie said that consumers strongly rely on brand names to determine what is appropriate for them. “Unlike prescription medicines, which can only be obtained with the aid of a healthcare professional, non-prescription or OTC medicines are purchased often without assistance, and the brand name is the key identifier,” he said. “There are other ways we can facilitate ingredient identification, while keeping it simple for consumers and protecting brand integrity,” he added. As such, Schoombie welcomed the TGA’s abandonment of “its blanket approach to reform in order to explore labelling requirements that are specific to each class of medicine”.

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