Pharmacy central to NSW campaign

HEALTH literacy and the role of pharmacists in promoting medicines safety will be key to the 2020 NSW Multicultural Health Week campaign.

Funded by the NSW Ministry of Health, the campaign, which kicked off today, aims to improve medicines safety across the state, with new fact sheets in 28 languages, outlining how patients can use their medicines safely.

Launching the campaign, NSW Health Secretary, Elizabeth Koff, said the focus on medicines safety was “particularly important” during the COVID-19 crisis.

“This year has been a challenging one for all and nobody has not been impacted by the pandemic,” she said.

“We all work together to ensure our families, friends and loved ones are all safe.

“The week highlights the safe use of medicines and also the role your pharmacist has in supporting your health and safe use of medicines.”

A promotional video notes that “your pharmacist is a highly trained professional and is there to help you”.

Speaking with SBS News, University of Sydney Professor of Medicines Use Optimisation, Parisa Aslani, said language barriers often caused confusion about how to correctly use prescribed medications.

“They’re not lollies, they are serious drugs and it’s important that people are aware of why they’re taking medicine, what it’s going to do for them, and what to do if there’s a problem,” she said.

“People are getting scared and they’re thinking they need medication ... but it’s a viral infection. Currently, there’s no cure for it.”

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