A study released at the Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI) conference in Sydney reveals the impact of minor ailments on GP workload. The study, conducted by health industry consultants IMS, shows that significant health resources are being devoted to coughs, colds and other conditions that could be effectively managed by a pharmacist, practice nurse or through responsible self care. It found 15% of all GP consultations involve the treatment of minor ailments, and 7% involve the treatment of minor ailments alone.
Conditions involved in these consultations could include: back pain, diarrhoea and gastroenteritis, coughs, viral infection, headache and constipation.
This shows that many patients go to their doctor for minor ailments which can be easily treated at the community pharmacy level, with medicines available now without a prescription. The products are already scheduled as being available.
The Pharmacy Guild would support a community campaign to assist patients to make the appropriate judgement about where to go for health care and advice.
The IMS study reinforces the experience in Queensland where it was found that tens of thousands of people each year were ringing the 000 emergency number for minor ailments. These ailments included minor cuts and abrasions, toothaches, ear aches, boils, ant bites, and difficulty sleeping. A public education campaign to address this problem was launched in September.
The Pharmacy Guild's National President, Kos Sclavos, said: "Given the success of the Queensland Government campaign for people to speak to a pharmacist, doctor or 13HELP instead of calling Emergency 000, there is a clear need to explain to patients where they can go particular health services for particular conditions.
"Pharmacists should be used as first line care for many conditions. We cannot assume the public knows what conditions can be managed at the community pharmacy level.
"Pharmacists as the most accessible health professional and this study confirms they are an underutilised resource. Community pharmacies refer patients to GPs when appropriate and that will continue, but we need to use scarce health resources more wisely.
"The Guild believes the data in the IMS study confirms the need for a proactive education campaign to help people make the right call on health care."
