Australian pharmacies must prepare for yet another profit
blow, as supermarkets stock medicinal products. Starting from April,
Australia’s leading stores will attempt to collect an increasing part of the
annual $9 billion per year pharmaceutical sector. Self-medication, and
ill-advice will arise as great problems.
Johnson & Johnson Pacific will launch iconic
pharmaceutical products, Sudafed and Codral in the grocery channel. These
mediations will not contain the regular scheduled doses found in a pharmacy, but
should act as a mere sub-therapeutic.
Pharmacists and trained healthcare professionals seek
to give patients quality medical care, including the correct medication advice.
Supermarkets cannot offer healthcare. Pharmacist Hugh Ada, proprietor of Ada
and Flynn Pharmacy, Grafton, asks, “How many people now buy their medication
for coughs, colds, pain, warts, acne, tinea from supermarkets without having
the ability to ask somebody who knows what they are talking about? Checkout-chicks
have no formal training.”
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| Hugh Ada glares at the competitor. |
“Coles and Woolworths see pharma cies as the only
small business that they don’t yet control. They’ve taken over bakeries,
butchers, petrol stations, liquor stores, and newsagencies. The only thing left
is pharmacies. And if they stock unscheduled medications, they will.
Supermarkets aren’t interested in an individual’s health; they’re interested in
their wallet.”
With an ageing population, Australia relies on
medications for common problems including diabetes and high cholesterol.
Patients should consult medical professions before self-medicating, as
drug-interaction can be a serious detriment to ones health.
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