WITH almost one third of GP and hospital emergency department visits prompted by minor health concerns such as coughs, colds, headaches and stomach upsets, a new report from the Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB) says pharmacists should be writing a "recommendation prescription" for OTC products along with providing self-care advice.
The report says that there are an estimated 57 million GP consultations and 3.7 million A&E visits for self-treatable conditions which cost the British health system 2.3 billion per annum.
PAGB chief executive John Smith said people should first seek advice from their pharmacist who is a "highly trained healthcare professional who can provide advice about self care and self-treatable conditions, and can identify when symptoms need to be assessed by a doctor".
Visit pagb.co.uk for the report.
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