A Port Macquarie pharmacist says rescheduling of low-dose, over-the-counter codeine-containing medicines from February 1 will have major impacts on the community.
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Judy Plunkett, a member of the Pharmacy Guild of NSW, says the Therapeutic Goods Administration's decision will see community members requiring a doctor's prescription to receive some codeine-based medicines.
The medicines affected include, paracetamol + codeine 500mg + <15mg which includes Panadeine, Panadeine Extra and Mersyndol; Ibuprofen + codeine 200mg + <15mg which includes Nurofen Plus and Panafen Plus; Asprin + codeine 300mg + <15mg which includes Aspalgin, Codis Disprin Forte; and cough and cold medicines, which includes Codral Original Cold and Flu, Demazin day and night cold and flu.
"February 1 will mean congestion at doctors' surgeries and a crowded A&E (hospital accident and emergency),” Ms Plunkett said.
"This will see upward pressure on Medicare, increased costs to patients where your doctor does not bulk bill and more of the so-called doctor and pharmacy shopping.
"In some rural and regional areas it will actually lead to people suffering unnecessary pain because they won't be able to access a doctor and therefore any treatment stronger than paracetamol and ibuprofen at all. It will be distressing for everyone."
Ms Plunkett said pharmacists had been 'for many, many years' part of the health system where they safely treated patients for short term acute pain.
From February 1, she says, that will not be the case.
The guild's use of the MedsASSIST program which allows some 70 percent of the state's pharmacists real time recording and monitoring of patient use of codeine medicines will also cease on February 1.