| | |
Headaches for Australian Drug Vending Machine Plans
According to a report in the Sunday Telegraph (Sunday, 21 January 2001), a review ordered by Australian Federal Government and New South Wales State Government into the availability of drugs has recommended that common painkillers and medications be made avalable through vending machines. Such a plan would be restricted to the sale of painkillers and medications currently only available in supermarkets and chemists.
NSW Opposition health spokesperson, Jillian Skinner has declared she would oppose the proposal in the shadow Cabinet should the plan go ahead. Citing her concerns that if pharmaceuticals containing pseudoephedrine were allowed to be sold in vending machines, the risk of them being used to produce illegal substances such as the drug "speed" would increase, Ms Skinner has denounced the plan as "ludicrous".
Opposition to the proposal extends to the Pharmacy Guild of Australia with concerns that vending machines dispensing medical supplies will pose a health risk to children, stating that children will see obtaining the drugs as a challenge.
Not all comments made were against the proposal. Dr Andrew Wilson, the NSW chief health officer, said that scheduled drugs would not be made available from vending machines.
Those containing pseudoephedrine would not be acceptable under the current proposal.
"This (the plan) would only apply to drugs which are already available from supermarkets and corner stores," he said.
219
|
|
|
|
