TRAINING
What happens with people addicted to
codeine containing medicine is that they
purchase the medicine at a number of
pharmacies, which are usually in close
proximity to each other. They also provide
responses to pharmacy staff questions
that would not lead to challenges.
Bayever quoted the Pharmacist code of
conduct: Welfare of the patient principle:
“A pharmacist’s prime concern in the
performance of his/her professional
duties must be the welfare of both the
patient and other members of the public”.
And control over medicine principle: “A
pharmacist must at all times exercise
proper and/or reasonable care in respect
of and control over medicines”.
The Initiative will go live on 2 January
2014 when consumers purchasing a
medicine containing codeine will have to
supply their identity numbers. This will be
entered into a central database. Therefore
consumers abusing codeine can be
educated and assisted for drug abuse.
The information will be entered via a
feature phone, and app that has been
developed by Microsoft and is very
secure.
The difficulty of this is that it will be up
to the pharmacist or their assistant to say
no to the consumer. “We have to convince
our patients to give us their id number.
The international world is also watching
us. As an industry we need to work
together.”
Bayever said no–one starts out
wanting to be addicted to codeine. “It is
something that occurs gradually. Often
the patient does not even realise he/ she
is addicted. We need to find out the real
reasons why they are abusing the
ingredient and assist them to overcome
their addiction.”
The Initiative is launching with
pharmacies and then rolling out to other
sectors. There is a PR programme in
place to promote the project. This will
include a five point plan on how
pharmacists can refuse a codeine
containing medication to a consumer.
The Initiative is launching with
pharmacies and then rolling out to other
sectors. There is a PR programme in
place to promote the project. This will
include a five point plan on how
pharmacists can refuse a codeine
containing medication to a consumer.
Bayever said that the project was being
watched avidly by other countries. “As
health professionals we are taking a
leading role in self-regulating our
The Codeine
Care Initiative
COD
E
CAR
E INIT INE
IATIV
E
The safe, responsible way
to self-medication
The newest innovation in pharmaceutical care is the launch of the Codeine Care Initiative - a very simple process aimed at helping you
understand your purchases of medication containing codeine. It also aims to address and manage potential codeine medication misuse.
How
1
2
Ask Pharmacist
Identify Yourself
Ask your pharmacist for a product
containing codeine
Provide your ID number
to your pharmacist
3
Purchase Product
The pharmacist will dispense the product
in accordance with the CPS Guidelines
Why
Simple way to promote
industry self-regulation.
Information is the key
to better responsible
self-care and self-medication.
Information
at your fingertips
Using the free Microsoft TAG application available for
smartphones and feature phones, you can scan the
unique TAG provided by TrustaTAG Systems on the
product package. This will take you to a page showing
more information about that particular product.
One step forward
in addressing codeine
medication misuse.
Encouraging the correct
use of over-the-counter
medicines.
Remember
Read all labels, and never take more than the recommended dose of any medicine.
If in any doubt about the seriousness of a medical
condition, talk to your healthcare professional.
www.selfcare247.co.za
The Codeine Care Initiative poster
industry. As an industry we can ill afford
to lose codeine.”
The reality is that this initiative is of
utmost importance for the pharmacies
nationwide. South Africa is one of the
highest consumers of codeine in the
world and the highest in Africa. The World
Health Organisation (WHO) has identified
this as a problem. “Therefore we need an
innovative solution to assist pharmacists
and their patients to control the potential
misuse of codeine containing
substances,” said Bayever, adding that the
project was being watched avidly by other
countries.
“As health professionals we are taking
a leading role in self-regulating our
industry. As an industry we can ill afford
to lose codeine,” he concluded.
This will be the first of such projects.
Codeine is the pilot and other misus ed
products will follow.
w
Did you kno
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Up to 14% of
n abusers
•
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• Up to 72%
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• the averag
een 26.3 and
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t on
• It is estim
are dependen
orldwide
illion people w
m
ide
t for
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45% in treatmen rted
h Africa nearly
• In Sout
ndence repo
edicine depe
rs.
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ining painkille
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the use
FrontShop Training Academy is a CPD accredited training evening and completely organised by FrontShop. Sponsored by pharmaceutical companies in
the industry, the products launched and lectures are reviewed and printed in the FrontShop Pharmacy Magazine, available afterwards on our website
and Facebook and sent out via email to a network of other medical magazine subscribers to increase our sponsors publicity. To book your training slot for
2014. Email sales@frontshop.co.za
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