Page 324 - Week 01 - Thursday, 14 February 1991
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and so forth mean. I think that will be an important issue for us to deal with in making sure that people actually understand those particular issues. Should we encourage the manufacturers to indicate what they are, or does it come to a point where we actually are forced to legislate on it?
I favour, in the initial instance anyway, suggesting that that is a matter that we are considering and that manufacturers should consider what they can do. If that is not successful there may be some reason for us to legislate in that regard. The Bill is very straightforward. It is a necessary amendment to bring us into line with the NHMRC recommendations, and I am quite happy to support it.
MR STEFANIAK (4.07): Medicines play an integral part in the treatment and management of disease. Their successful use relies on rational application while they remain appropriately accessible to the public. Accessibility and controls on the use of pharmaceuticals are a Territory responsibility, and similar mechanisms of control apply in all parts of Australia. These controls are based on the recommendations of the National Health and Medical Research Council.
One of the council's recommendations is that terfanidine be available from pharmacists without a doctor's prescription. Studies have shown that this drug causes less drowsiness than the other antihistamines. Easier access will mean that, in addition to terfanidine joining other antihistamines which can be purchased without prescription, an antihistamine with minimal effects on motor skills will be readily available to drivers. This must be a desirable development in the management of hay fever.
For similar reasons an anti-inflammatory analgesic, which has been on prescription for a number of years and has been widely used overseas without prescription, will be available from pharmacies without a medical consultation. This will mirror the current situation in New South Wales over the last 12 months. The drug ibuprofen is especially valuable for the temporary relief of mild pain where inflammation is present and it is very useful for the management of minor sports injuries.
Conversely, it is appropriate that archaic treatments be restricted - for example, crystal violet, commonly known as gentian violet, has been widely used in the treatment of superficial skin infections. This chemical will, in future, be available only on a doctor's prescription, following evidence that crystal violet may be toxic.
Similarly, the sedative chloral hydrate will be available only on a doctor's prescription. This is sensible because of the continuing and widespread abuse of hypnotics and sedatives in the community and the reported increased level of misadventure in its use interstate. I wish to emphasise, however, that there are alternatives to these two drugs - povidone-iodine or one of the imidazoles - - -
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