Widening consumer access to medicines: A comparison of prescription to non-prescription medicine switch in Australia and New Zealand
Background: Despite similarities in health systems and Trans-Tasman Harmonization of medicines scheduling, New Zealand is more active than Australia in 'switching' (reclassifying) medicines from prescription to non-prescription. Objectives: To identify and compare enablers and barriers to...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Public Library of Science
2015
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30857 |
| _version_ | 1848753209641795584 |
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| author | Gauld, N. Kelly, F. Emmerton, Lynne Buetow, S. |
| author_facet | Gauld, N. Kelly, F. Emmerton, Lynne Buetow, S. |
| author_sort | Gauld, N. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: Despite similarities in health systems and Trans-Tasman Harmonization of medicines scheduling, New Zealand is more active than Australia in 'switching' (reclassifying) medicines from prescription to non-prescription. Objectives: To identify and compare enablers and barriers to switch in New Zealand and Australia. Methods: We conducted and analyzed 27 in-depth personal interviews with key participants in NZ and Australia and international participants previously located in Australia, and analyzed records of meetings considering switches (2000-2013). Analysis of both sets of data entailed a heuristic qualitative approach that embraced the lead researcher's knowledge and experience. Results: The key themes identified were conservatism and political influences in Australia, and an open attitude, proactivity and flexibility in NZ. Pharmacist-only medicine schedules and individuals holding a progressive attitude were proposed to facilitate switch in both countries. A pharmacy retail group drove many switches in NZ ('third-party switch'), unlike Australia. Barriers to switch in both countries included small market sizes, funding of prescription medicines and cost of doctor visits, and lack of market exclusivity. In Australia, advertising limitations for pharmacist-only medicines reportedly discouraged industry from submitting switch applications. Perceptions of pharmacy performance could help or hinder switches. Conclusion: Committee and regulator openness to switch, and confidence in pharmacy appear to influence consumer access to medicines. The pharmacist-only medicine schedule in Australasia and the rise of third-party switch and flexibility in switch in NZ could be considered elsewhere to enable switch. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:20:53Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-30857 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:20:53Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-308572017-09-13T15:10:44Z Widening consumer access to medicines: A comparison of prescription to non-prescription medicine switch in Australia and New Zealand Gauld, N. Kelly, F. Emmerton, Lynne Buetow, S. Background: Despite similarities in health systems and Trans-Tasman Harmonization of medicines scheduling, New Zealand is more active than Australia in 'switching' (reclassifying) medicines from prescription to non-prescription. Objectives: To identify and compare enablers and barriers to switch in New Zealand and Australia. Methods: We conducted and analyzed 27 in-depth personal interviews with key participants in NZ and Australia and international participants previously located in Australia, and analyzed records of meetings considering switches (2000-2013). Analysis of both sets of data entailed a heuristic qualitative approach that embraced the lead researcher's knowledge and experience. Results: The key themes identified were conservatism and political influences in Australia, and an open attitude, proactivity and flexibility in NZ. Pharmacist-only medicine schedules and individuals holding a progressive attitude were proposed to facilitate switch in both countries. A pharmacy retail group drove many switches in NZ ('third-party switch'), unlike Australia. Barriers to switch in both countries included small market sizes, funding of prescription medicines and cost of doctor visits, and lack of market exclusivity. In Australia, advertising limitations for pharmacist-only medicines reportedly discouraged industry from submitting switch applications. Perceptions of pharmacy performance could help or hinder switches. Conclusion: Committee and regulator openness to switch, and confidence in pharmacy appear to influence consumer access to medicines. The pharmacist-only medicine schedule in Australasia and the rise of third-party switch and flexibility in switch in NZ could be considered elsewhere to enable switch. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30857 10.1371/journal.pone.0119011 Public Library of Science fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Gauld, N. Kelly, F. Emmerton, Lynne Buetow, S. Widening consumer access to medicines: A comparison of prescription to non-prescription medicine switch in Australia and New Zealand |
| title | Widening consumer access to medicines: A comparison of prescription to non-prescription medicine switch in Australia and New Zealand |
| title_full | Widening consumer access to medicines: A comparison of prescription to non-prescription medicine switch in Australia and New Zealand |
| title_fullStr | Widening consumer access to medicines: A comparison of prescription to non-prescription medicine switch in Australia and New Zealand |
| title_full_unstemmed | Widening consumer access to medicines: A comparison of prescription to non-prescription medicine switch in Australia and New Zealand |
| title_short | Widening consumer access to medicines: A comparison of prescription to non-prescription medicine switch in Australia and New Zealand |
| title_sort | widening consumer access to medicines: a comparison of prescription to non-prescription medicine switch in australia and new zealand |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30857 |