Medsafe’s Cough/Cold Remedy Ban – Goodbye Access

Medsafe’s Cough/Cold Remedy Ban – Goodbye Access, Hello 147% Price Hike

Medsafe’s decision to ban the sale of certain cough and cold remedies in supermarkets will deny parents of sick children ready access to cough and cold relief and force them to pay up to 147% more in pharmacies for the same product, says Food and Grocery Council Chief Executive, Katherine Rich.

"It is disappointing that Medsafe's Medicines Classifications Committee, which prides itself on evidence-based decision-making has made this recommendation when there is absolutely no evidence that there is any safety issue in New Zealand or internationally. It seems to be a case of “Britain’s done it”, so should New Zealand”.

“Kiwi parents have been using these coughs and colds remedies safely for generations. Any evaluation of adverse reaction data from the Centre for Adverse Reaction Monitoring and the New Zealand Poisons Centre shows that the products available in supermarkets are not the ones causing any safety issues.”

“Parents who have been quite happy in the past to buy these products from supermarket shelves will be hit hard in the pocket. Some cough/cold remedies currently available in supermarkets are 50 - 147% more expensive in pharmacies for the same product.”

“It was clear from the beginning that Medsafe was hell-bent on pushing this through. Despite 11 out of 13 detailed submissions being against this move, had it not been for the Minister rejecting their more extreme proposal to ban all adult formulations from supermarket shelves as well this could have been a lot worse for consumers.”

“This decision will greatly reduce access to these remedies for many New Zealanders. Medsafe has not given consideration to the fact that pharmacies often have only limited hours and in many rural communities there aren’t pharmacies at all.” said Mrs Rich.

ENDS

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