Welcome to Pharmacy Self Care

Pharmacy's leading health information and education programme.

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.

Pharmacy Self Care is a health information and education program for the public designed specially for delivery through pharmacies. 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.

There are 34 cards in the series of health information fact cards. These are available free with your pharmacist's advice from your Self Care Pharmacy. Around 564 pharmacies in New Zealand have this health information.

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.

Acne	Arthritis	Asthma	Children's Illnesses
Children's Pain & Fever	Coughs & Colds	Cold Sores	Constipation
COPD	Cystitis	Diarrhoea & Vomiting	Emergency Contraceptive Pill
Eye Care & Conjunctivitis	Fungal Infections	Gout	Haemorrhoids
Hayfever	Headlice	High Blood Pressure	Indigestion & Heartburn
Migraine	Mouth Ulcers	Pain Relief	Prostate Problems
Quit Smoking	Reducing your Cholesterol	Scabies	Skin Cancer
Sleeping Well	Sprains & Strains	Threadworms	Type 2 Diabetes
Vaginal Thrush	Weight & Health

The Self Care Members' section of this website provides information and assistance specifically only for Self Care members. A Self Care members' password is required to access this section.

Welcome to Pharmacy Self Care

What is Pharmacy Self Care?

Pharmacy Self Care Goals

Current Fact Cards