NZSMI congratulates global award winner
April 17, 2015: Consumer healthcare products industry body, the New Zealand Self-Medication Industry Association (SMI), congratulates
one of its member companies, Douglas Pharmaceuticals, on winning “The Most Innovative Global OTC (over-the-counter)
Marketing Campaign 2015 award sponsored byOTC.Newsflash” in Paris, France today.
The winning campaign was for Douglas’ erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment, Siilvasta (sildenafil). Douglas successfully
sought to have sildenafil reclassified in New Zealand last October to allow trained pharmacists to supply the medicine
without a prescription - the first ‘reclassification’ or ‘switch’ of its kind in the world.
“We applaud the Douglas initiative in applying for this medicine to be reclassified. It is a real achievement for a New
Zealand company to win a Nicholas Hall OTC Marketing Award. These awards are highly regarded in the pharmaceutical world as Nicholas Hall is a world expert on OTC marketing,” SMI
executive director, Tim Roper.
Mr Roper says the Douglas success could be followed by more such medicine ‘reclassifications’.
“Reclassifications or ‘switches’ such as this deliver more choice, easier access and potentially lower overall costs to
consumers. Douglas’ success with Silvasta has shown that consumers want easier access to effective medicines,” explains
Mr Roper.
He adds that an additional benefit of the reclassification is that more men are likely to get the health advice they
need.
“Men tend to see their doctor less often than women and they may delay seeking treatment for ED longer than necessary.
If they can walk into a pharmacy without an appointment in an informal setting they may be more likely to visit early
and get the treatment they need or be appropriately referred to a doctor if the screening process reveals other
conditions.”
He says that his industry would like to see other similar pharmaceuticals that are deemed safe and effective be
reclassified as appropriate.
“Medsafe has even encouraged our members to submit more applications,” says Mr Roper.
ENDS