Lecture 1

Question 1

The most common healthcare intervention by far is through the use of?

Answer 1

Medicines

Question 2

Where do medicines come from?

Answer 2

-Great majority of medicines were originally derived from plants
􏰀Examples include morphine (Papaver somniferum), atropine
(Atropa belladonna), salicylic acid (Salix alba)
􏰀-Some were derived from minerals (e.g. magnesium carbonate)
or animals (e.g. thyroxine)
􏰀-Some medicines still derived from these sources but increasingly either synthesised (e.g. diazepam, ibuprofen) or semi- synthesised (e.g. penicillin V) or bio-engineered (e.g. human insulin, human growth hormone)

Question 3

The generic name of a medicine is?

Answer 3

Standardised internationally recognised name for a drug

Question 4

The trade or brand name of a medicine is?

Answer 4

Name given by the manufacturer

Question 5

Why are new medicines so expensive?

Answer 5

􏰀When a company makes initial application for approval it receives a patent for that molecule (usually 20 years plus an extension of 5 years)
􏰀However it may take 15 years or more to come to market and the company has invested $1 billion dollars
􏰀It has limited time to recoup its investment: once off-patent other manufacturers can make ‘generic’ versions of the product

Question 6

Before a medicine can be used it has to be approved by the countries medicines regulator. In NZ who is the medicines regulator?

Answer 6

MedSafe, as part of the Ministry of Health

Question 7

Why do medicines need to be registered?

Answer 7

A country’s regulator needs to be assured of a medicine’s quality, efficacy and safety before approval

Question 8

What are the two acts that currently decides Medicines classification?

Answer 8

• Medicines Act 1981

- Medicines Regulation 1984

Question 9

What are the four broad categories of medicines classification?

Answer 9

• Prescription Medicines
• Restricted (Pharmacist- only) Medicines
• Pharmacy only Medicines
• General Sale List Medicines

Question 10

What is a Prescription Medicine?

Answer 10

need a prescription (licence) from an accredited prescriber to possess

Question 11

What is a restricted (pharmacist only) Medicine?

Answer 11

can be sold only by a registered pharmacist with conditions- need patient details

Question 12

What is a Pharmacy only Medicine?

Answer 12

can be sold in a pharmacy but not necessarily by pharmacist

Question 13

What is a general sale Medicine?

Answer 13

can be sold in any retail outlet

Question 14

Why do we need to categories Medicines?

Answer 14

Classification provides a balance between legitimate public access and safety: Prescription Medicines can only be legally accessed through a prescriber because of concerns about their safety if used inappropriately (will discuss who can prescribe in later lectures)

Question 15

In NZ who pays for Medicines?

Answer 15

In NZ we have a public health service and most pharmaceuticals (medicines) are subsidised by the taxpayer through Vote Health.
Patients may pay a variety of co-payments and part-charges and not all medicines are subsidised (patient has to pay full-cost)

Question 16

The government agency that determines the level of pharmaceutical subsidies in NZ is?

Answer 16

PHARMAC (The pharmaceutical Management Company)

Question 17

What is self medication.

Answer 17

Self-medication is the use of non-prescription medicines (sometimes called over-the counter’ medicines), dietary supplements and ‘complementary and alternative medicines’ to self-treat or prevent medical conditions/symptoms

Question 18

Are dietary supplements and CAMS registered Medicines?

Answer 18

Note that ‘non-prescription medicines’ are registered medicines available mostly through pharmacy but most dietary supplements and CAMs are not registered medicines

Question 19

CAM stands for?

Answer 19

Complementary and alternative medicines

Question 20

What are CAMS?

Answer 20

• CAMs is a general term used to describe a very wide range of ‘health products’ (e.g. herbal medicines, dietary supplements, homeopathic medicines, nutraceuticals, probiotics etc.)
• Sometimes called ‘Natural Health Products’

Question 21

What was the statement the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand released regarding CAMS?

Answer 21

“Pharmacists selling or supplying complementary and alternative medicines, including homeopathic remedies, must only recommend a product where they are satisfied of its safety, quality and effectiveness. They must explain the options available, including the risks and benefits, and assist patients in making informed decisions by providing relevant and independent information.”