CHF joins codeine chorus
October 6, 2015
THE Consumer Health Forum
has added its voice to those
opposing the rescheduling of
codeine-containing cough and cold
remedies (PD Fri), saying making
the products prescription-only is a
“very blunt instrument to address
what is a complex issue”.
CHF acting ceo Jo Root said
consumers want medicines to be
affordable, and they “want to be
able to get them when they need
them to manage their own lives”.
Root said the significant
proportion of Australians living with
chronic pain are looking for safe
and appropriate access to effective
medicines, and OTC codeine
products meet that need.
“We believe the majority of
users, particularly those using it
for ongoing or chronic pain, are
using responsibly, and they would
be unnecessarily penalised by this
move,” she said.
“We also know that just making
codeine products prescription only
will not stop misuse, as people will
still be able to doctor shop and
access codeine products that way.”
The CHF has joined with other
groups incl the Guild in suggesting
a more sophisticated approach
involving real-time recording and
reporting of purchases to help
identify at-risk consumers.
Other measures suggested
include changes to packaging
and labelling to emphasise the
risk of addiction, and a “properly
resourced community education
program involving consumers,
clinicians and pharmacists about
using codeine and other opioids to
effectively manage pain”.
Root said while the risk of misuse
and abuse can’t be eliminated,
“nor can we punish consumers
who urgently need medication to
manage their pain”.
A Fairfax report last week
estimated the additional cost to
Medicare for doctor’s visits to
obtain prescriptions for codeinecontaining
products would be in
excess of $170 million annually.
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