Guild Flags Codeine Plan

The Pharmacy Guild says it wants to work constructively with governments to maintain “direct pharmacy access” to medicines containing codeine for the temporary relief of acute pain - despite the up-scheduling of these items effective 01 Feb 2018.

Details of a Guild proposal emerged yesterday, which would see codeine continue to be available under strict conditions.  While normally it would be a prescription-only product, “there would be an exception in these clearly defined circumstances” - that is, for acute pain, in accordance with strict and auditable protocols, and with real time monitoring and referral asnecessary to prevent misuse.

“The codeine issue is a vital one for the broader pharmacist profession as, without this exception, pharmacists’ role as medicine experts, counsellors and advisors will be undermined,” said Guild exec

Source: pharmacydaily.com.au, Thursday 22 June 2017