Pharmacists exhorted to improve their service

Press, 8 March 1984, Page 14

Pharmacists exhorted to improve their service

NZPA-AAP Melbourne

Pharmacists had a responsibility to do more than hand out drugs if they were to have a future in the health market, a pharmaceutical conference has been told in Melbourne.

Professor Albert Wertheimer, director of the University of Minnesota’s department of social and administrative pharmacy, told the Australia and New Zealand Pharmaceutical Societies’ conference they also had a role in health education.

Despite their knowledge of. drugs and common illnesses, chemists were un-

able to encourage patients to take their medicine correctly or correct bad habits such as improper diet, smoking, and overwork. He told the 450 delegates, including pharmacists from Asia, Canada, and Britain, that proper medication management involved: • Encouraging legislators to give the pharmaceutical industry incentives to undertake research. • Making public comment on undesirable practices, such as in advertising. • Monitoring promotion and claims about drugs, vitamins and health foods sold over the counter.

• Working with doctors. • Encouraging patients to ask questions and advice about medical devices and unorthodox healing systems. Professor Wertheimer said that unless pharmacists were up to date on alternative medicines, they were “playing right into the bands of possible quacks, charlatans and other possible rogues.” However, it was proper that people should have the opportunity to explore every potential source of cure, and pharmacists, as health protectors and educators, should help, he said.