New Zealand's complementary medicine products industry body, the New Zealand Self-Medication Industry (NZSMI), says a decision by Medsafe's Medicines Classification Committee (MCC) to make over-the-counter codeine in combination painkillers prescription-only from Jan 2020 is "disappointing and unnecessary."
The MCC has also recommended that from Jan 2020, medicines containing codeine as the only active ingredient should be reclassified from prescription to restricted medicine, that is, available in small packs from a pharmacist following consultation and recording.
"This decision is a complete overreaction to a similar move in Australia last year..it will only lead to consumers enduring pain and GP surgeries being overrun.
"The situation was different in New Zealand and well controlled already," explained NZSMI executive director, Scott Milne.
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