Opioid packs to shrink

MOVES to mandate smaller pack sizes for opioid medications from 01 Jan 2020, are being welcomed by the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA).

Speaking at the SHPA’s 2019 Medicines Leadership Forum in Canberra on Wednesday, Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, reiterated his commitment to making medication safety a National Health Priority.

During his opening address Hunt confirmed the Government will require medication manufacturers to provide opioids in smaller pack sizes next year, include better labelling warning and customer information, and introduce restrictions on the use of fentanyl patches, in line with recommendations from the SHPA’s Reducing Opioid-related Harm report.

SHPA CEO, Kristin Michaels, welcomed the initiatives, aimed at reducing opioid dependency and misuse.

“SHPA’s Reducing Opioid-related Harm report called for support for clinicians to prescribe the smallest quantity of analgesics – including dispensing partial packs of analgesics – where this is appropriate for the needs of the patient, so we are pleased to see this is forthcoming from the Department of Health and Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA),” Michaels said.

“In this complex area, communication is key and we welcome moves toward clearer information on opioid labelling relating to the risk of long-term use and overdose, as well as more comprehensible Consumer Medicines Information (CMI) leaflets.”