Media Release 17 May 2005
Subject: Pharmaceutical Society Recommends Patient Choice Remain Available for Asthma Inhalers
The Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand Inc (the Society) welcomes Pharmac’s decision to review its plan to make
Salamol the sole-supply salbutamol aerosol medicine for asthma patients.
“The Society recommends that both Ventolin and Salamol inhalers remain subsidised on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. It
would be in the best interests of New Zealand’s asthmatics for them to continue to have a choice about which brand of
their prescribed medicine they use”, said Mr McKone.
The Society is the professional body for pharmacists, responsible for providing policy, practice advice and continuing
professional development for the pharmacy profession.
The Society says major questions about the product change have been raised by patients and Pharmac has a responsibility
to address these issues before making a final decision.
“We have a serious issue here because Pharmac is proposing to introduce the cheaper Salamol in the face of patient
feedback that it clogs and fails to perform as a reliever during an asthmatic attack,” says Society President Bernie
McKone.
“We know patients are experiencing problems with Salamol inhalers clogging. The product’s supplier has responded by
saying that regular cleaning is required to maintain the product. However, we know from practical experience that people
don’t wash their inhalers regularly or properly. We must deal with practical reality, not theory, and, as pharmacists,
we say asthmatics require absolute reliability from their inhaler.”
“The other human reality to acknowledge is that serious asthmatics know they must be prepared for an attack at any time.
Fear that an inhaler will not work when required simply raises anxiety levels and that itself may precipitate an asthma
attack.”
“Explanatory material to patients and pharmacists from Pharmac and the distributor has not allayed these concerns,” says
Mr McKone. “Our patients tell us that they’re having difficulty using the Salamol inhalers and it’s making them angry
and apprehensive.”
“Pharmacists have told the Society that this product change is not working for their patients and, as a professional
body, we are duty-bound to warn that there are problems here which must be dealt with.”
Mr McKone takes issue with Pharmac’s claim that it is the pharmacists’ job to explain the changes to their patients.
“The pharmacist’s role is to explain how to use the prescribed medicine appropriately, not to explain the reasons why
Pharmac has forced patients to change from one product to another.”
“Pharmacists are having to spend a great deal of their professional time with distressed patients. Pharmac should
remember it has a responsibility to implement medicine changes in such a way that allows every patient to be prepared
and advised, and not frightened.”
“Pharmacists need reassurance that patient compliance aids will continue to be provided. A guaranteed continuing supply
of the spacers used in conjunction with inhalers is essential”, says Mr McKone.
ENDS