CHF urges CMI overhaul

PHARMACIES should give printed Consumer Medicines Information (CMI) leaflets to patients as standard practice when dispensing prescription medicines according to the Consumers Health Forum, which this week said alternate practices such as directing clients to a website were “not of any use”.

Consumers Health Forum CEO Leanne Wells has raised the issue with Health Minister Greg Hunt, saying her organisation had received complaints that patients were not always given CMIs as required by legal regulations.

“It should be standard practice for pharmacies to give printed CMIs when dispensing prescription medicine,” Wells told 9 Publishing, adding, “both doctors and pharmacists should ensure patients receive simple, clear and accurate advice, preferably on paper.”

Consultant pharmacist Geraldine Moses has backed the call for change, saying CMIs mostly tell patients “how to be frightened of their medication or ‘tell your doctor’ if a side effect occurs but not what to do about it.

“Greg Hunt should fund a CMI overhaul,” she tweeted this week.

Pharmacy Guild spokesman Greg Turnbull was quoted as saying that while pharmacists support maximum health literacy, making CMIs mandatory for “every one of the 300 million-plus PBS scripts per year might not be the best solution.

“Pharmacists exercise their professional judgement and clinical discretion in determining the best way to inform patients of what they need to know, always in the patients’ best interest,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Minister confirmed he would be writing to both the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Australian Medical Association to “reaffirm existing responsibilities” including ensuring written information is readily available when patients buy medications at the chemist.