Australian Medical Association Limited
ABN 37 008 426 793
42 Macquarie Street, Barton ACT 2600: PO Box 6090, Kingston ACT 2604
Telephone: (02) 6270 5400 Facsimile (02) 6270 5499
‘MINOR AILMENTS’ NOT ALWAYS MINOR
AMA Vice President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that calls by the self-medication
industry for pharmacists to treat so-called ‘minor ailments’ such as coughs, colds, sore throats
and back pain instead of doctors could put people with these ailments at risk of more serious
health problems.
Dr Hambleton said that minor ailments are not always minor.
“Respiratory tract infections and back pain are often precursors to more serious conditions and
require proper diagnosis,” Dr Hambleton said.
“Doctors are skilled in diagnosis, pharmacists aren’t.
“The AMA supports people having greater education and awareness about their health and
pursuing self management when it is safe to do so, but much of that education and awareness
should come from their GP in the first instance.
“Making pharmacists the first point of contact for ailments, whether considered minor or not, is
ill-advised.
“All medicines, whether they need a prescription or not, have side effects and need to be taken
with caution.
“If something has an action, there is always a risk that it will also have a reaction.
“And the risk of adverse events increases when more than one medication, even off-the-shelf
products, is taken at one time,” Dr Hambleton said.
Dr Hambleton said that the AMA is currently lobbying the Government to extend Medicare
support for general practice nurses to perform more work on behalf of GPs within general
practice.
“Expanding the role of general practice nurses will help ensure that patients with minor
ailments receive timely diagnosis and follow-up care – including education and awareness – in
the general practice setting.
“This way, minor ailments will not become major ailments,” Dr Hambleton said.
4 February 2010
CONTACT:
John Flannery
02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761
Peter Jean
02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753
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