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24 ETHICAL NEWS PHARMACISTS FELT FORGOTTEN BY GOVERNMENT: PSA While so many people have been struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s safe to say that pharmacists in particular have been dealing with a challenging time. Recently the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) made a submission to the Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee inquiring into the Queensland government’s health response to COVID-19, highlighting the serious challenges faced by pharmacists in the state during the pandemic. The PSA says pharmacists undoubtedly showed up across Queensland, rising to the challenge of COVID-19, remaining open to ensure the community had access to critical health services and quality medicines. “There are over 1200 community pharmacies in Queensland, and as far as PSA is aware, not a single one closed during the pandemic, remaining open to provide care, immunisations, medicines and supplies to all Queenslanders,” PSA Queensland Branch President Shane MacDonald said. He notes that the state government’s overall health response helped contain the pandemic, but there were still areas that could be improved. The PSA submission outlines the key issues faced by pharmacists, particularly barriers that restricted pharmacists from providing patients the best possible care during the pandemic, along with recommendations to ensure limitations can be transformed into future benefits for Queenslanders. Highlighted key issues include legislative disparities, lack of access to personal protective equipment and management and communication of medicine shortages. “Pharmacists and their staff felt forgotten by the government during this pandemic, and it’s disappointing that pharmacy leaders and pharmacists weren’t always fully consulted when policy and implementation decisions were being made,” Mr MacDonald said. In the submission, PSA provided 11 recommendations, including a mechanism to consult with PSA on matters relating to the supply of therapeutic goods, the appointment of a Queensland Chief Pharmacist, uniform legislations across all jurisdictions in consultation with other states and territories and adequate supply of personal protective equipment for hospital and community pharmacists and pharmacy staff. To view the submission, visit: my.psa. org.au/s/article/QPHCDSDFVPC PREGNANCY WARNING MANDATORY ON ALCOHOLIC DRINKS The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation has agreed to recommendations to make ‘Pregnancy Warning’ labels on alcoholic beverages mandatory, with manufacturers having three years to implement the requirement. This is an important step towards protecting the health of pregnant women and infants, according to the federal minister with portfolio responsibility for food regulation. “The Australian government is strongly committed to mandatory pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages to inform pregnant women and the broader community of the advice for pregnant women to not consume alcohol to prevent foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD),” Minister Richard Colbeck said. “The decisions made today underpin the efforts across the sector to improve standards and ensure the health of consumers, while giving consideration to the pressures on producers.” The forum brought together all Australian state and territory ministers responsible for food, as well as the federal and New Zealand ministers. Representatives considered the review report for mandatory pregnancy warning labels completed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). The FSANZ review recommended a label change from ‘Health Warning’ to ‘Pregnancy Warning’, which was accepted by the forum. Additionally, the federal government proposed an amendment to remove the colour prescriptions for the label and adopt the general liability requirements of the Food Standards Code that the statement and pictogram should contrast distinctly with the background of the label. The label recommended by FSANZ has black, white and red text stating, ‘PREGNANCY WARNING: Alcohol can cause lifelong harm to your baby’. Cancer Council Victoria applauded the colour move as a public health victory. “We know that for a label to be effective, it must be clear and visible, so it’s heartening to see the forum recognise and adopt the colour red, which is commonly associated with danger,” Cancer Council Victoria CEO Todd Harper said. “Most critically, this decision will have long-term health benefits for Australian women and children.” Professor Liz Elliot, paediatrician and spokeswoman for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, said: “There are many harms associated with alcohol use during pregnancy, including miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight and FASD, which is the leading non-genetic developmental disability in Australia. “The evidence is clear that alcohol consumption, while pregnant or not, comes with a range of health risks and negative health outcomes. “Women deserve to have this information readily available so they can make an informed decision when it comes to alcohol. “There’s an obvious need to mandate these public warnings in the way that ensures that the message gets through. This includes the appropriate size, market-tested wording and the use of red for all labels.” The standard for pregnancy warning labels will now be gazetted and included in the FSANZ Food Standards Code. An implementation period of three years will apply from the date of gazettal. RETAIL PHARMACY • AUG 2020