What is Pharmacy Self Care?

Pharmacy Self Care was introduced in New Zealand in October 1992. Since its introduction the programme has very rapidly grown in membership and many pharmacists have commented how it is an admirable tool with their counselling.

What is Pharmacy Self Care?

Pharmacy Self Care is a health promotion program designed specially for pharmacy. It aims to highlight the role of pharmacists in primary health care, particularly in the area of quality use of medicines.

The program also recognises the importance of all pharmacy staff working together as a team to promote the pharmacy as a centre for health information and advice.

The pharmacist is a primary health care practitioner who is readily accessible and provides people with:

information and services on staying well and avoiding health problems;
oral and written information on health problems;
disease treatment and assistance in solving health problems; and
support during the course of their treatment.

Pharmacy Self Care Goals

To use pharmacy's unique position to improve community access to quality health information, increase consumers' health awareness and encourage active involvement in their own health care.
To provide pharmacies with the opportunity to be recognised as primary centres for health information and advice.
To establish close working relationships with the purchasers/providers of health services and other public/private health agencies and present pharmacy as an essential resource to achieving their health goals.
To improve pharmacies' financial performance through raising pharmacists' profile and marketing the professional aspects of pharmacy practice.

Pharmacy Self Care – background information

E-Edge article Sept 08 - COPD Fact Card & Pharmacists' Role

For further information please contact

Linda McLauchlan
Pharmacy Self Care Facilitator
Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand
Phone (04) 802 0033
Fax (04) 382 9297

Fact Cards

There are 31 cards in the series of health information leaflets. These are available free with your pharmacist's advice from your Self Care Pharmacy. Over 600 pharmacies in New Zealand have these health information fact cards.

Look for the Self Care sign and stand in a pharmacy or ask the staff if they have Self Care fact cards.

Your Self Care pharmacist is able to advise you on how to treat your symptoms, what you can do to by way of self care and when it is time to visit your doctor. The cards all have sections on each of these issues.

The following are the Fact Cards' subjects currently avaliable

ACNE
ARTHRITIS
ASTHMA
CHILDREN'S ILLNESSES
CHILDREN'S PAIN & FEVER
COUGHS & COLDS
COLD SORES
CONSTIPATION
COPD
CYSTITIS
DIARRHOEA & VOMITING
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE PILL
FUNGAL INFECTIONS
GOUT
HAEMORRHOIDS
HAYFEVER
HEADLICE
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
INDIGESTION & HEARTBURN
MIGRAINE
MOUTH ULCERS
PAIN RELIEF
PROSTATE PROBLEMS
QUIT SMOKING
REDUCING YOUR CHOLESTEROL
SCABIES
SLEEPING WELL
THREADWORMS
TYPE 2 DIABETES
VAGINAL THRUSH
WEIGHT LOSS

Sponsorship

The Self Care programme receives sponsorship from a variety of sources, and mainly for sponsorship of specific fact cards.

View the sponsorship policy here

For further information please contact

Linda McLauchlan

Pharmacy Self Care Facilitator

Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand (Inc)

Phone (04) 802 0033

Fax (04) 382 9297