Better health through responsible self-medication

Better health for New Zealanders through the development of responsible self-medication

May 25, 2012

Media Release

Kiwis Must Take More Responsibility For Own Health

With tight fiscal discipline required to manage the precious health budget, New Zealanders must take more responsibility for their own health, says the New Zealand Self-Medication Industry (SMI), the industry body representing non-prescription consumer healthcare products, following yesterday’s Budget announcement.

“We should be watching the food we eat and the lifestyles we pursue in order to improve our health and well-being and relieve pressure on the health system,” says SMI executive director Tim Roper.

The industry organisation welcomed the focus on health and the additional investment allocated in the Budget.

“We hope the additional tax on cigarettes will focus smokers on the need to give up the habit and take advantage of the nicotine replacement products that are available to help them quit.

“Lifestyle changes are a matter of taking Self Care seriously and, although greater funding has been allocated to ‘beefing up’ frontline health services (around $47million), it is disappointing that a focus on and funding for a Minor Ailment strategy for New Zealand continues to be ignored.

“We believe greater use of the pharmacist workforce to relieve the pressure on GP time for minor ailments of a self-limiting nature such as mild pain or coughs and colds would further reduce the burden of cost on the healthcare system.”

ENDS

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