Lecture 1 Flashcards
The most common healthcare intervention by far is through the use of?
Medicines
Where do medicines come from?
-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)
The generic name of a medicine is?
Standardised internationally recognised name for a drug
The trade or brand name of a medicine is?
Name given by the manufacturer
Why are new medicines so expensive?
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
Before a medicine can be used it has to be approved by the countries medicines regulator. In NZ who is the medicines regulator?
MedSafe, as part of the Ministry of Health
Why do medicines need to be registered?
A country’s regulator needs to be assured of a medicine’s quality, efficacy and safety before approval
What are the two acts that currently decides Medicines classification?
- Medicines Act 1981
- Medicines Regulation 1984
What are the four broad categories of medicines classification?
- Prescription Medicines
- Restricted (Pharmacist- only) Medicines
- Pharmacy only Medicines
- General Sale List Medicines
What is a Prescription Medicine?
need a prescription (licence) from an accredited prescriber to possess
What is a restricted (pharmacist only) Medicine?
can be sold only by a registered pharmacist with conditions- need patient details
What is a Pharmacy only Medicine?
can be sold in a pharmacy but not necessarily by pharmacist
What is a general sale Medicine?
can be sold in any retail outlet
Why do we need to categories Medicines?
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)
In NZ who pays for Medicines?
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)
The government agency that determines the level of pharmaceutical subsidies in NZ is?
PHARMAC (The pharmaceutical Management Company)
What is self medication.
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
Are dietary supplements and CAMS registered Medicines?
Note that ‘non-prescription medicines’ are registered medicines available mostly through pharmacy but most dietary supplements and CAMs are not registered medicines
CAM stands for?
Complementary and alternative medicines
What are CAMS?
- 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’
What was the statement the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand released regarding CAMS?
“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.”
