Page 20 - rp-may-2020

NEWS CAMPAIGN CATCH-UP 18
RET AIL PHARMA C Y • MA Y 2020
CHP ADVISORY SERVICE FOR ADS
Consumer Healthcare Products (CHP)
Australia will launch AdCheck, a new
advertising advisory service, from July 1,
with TGA mandatory pre-approvals of
consumer advertising for therapeutic
goods ending on June 30.
AdCheck is described as a voluntary
service providing independent,
expert compliance checks and
guidance on all forms of direct-
to-consumer therapeutic goods
advertising, helping to minimise the
risks of noncompliance.
“With the TGA’s increased sanctions
and penalties for noncompliant
advertising, it’s now more important
than ever to ensure that all direct-to-
consumer advertising, including social
media content, complies with the
Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code,”
CHP Australia Regulatory and Legal
Director Steve Scarff said.
“If advertisers, publishers,
broadcasters and media agencies
don’t manage their compliance
obligations, they risk not only heavy
fines and sanctions, but also brand
and reputational damage.
“Independent compliance checks
have helped minimise the risks of
noncompliant advertising, and through
the AdCheck service they continue to
assist businesses moving forward.”
CHP says AdChecks will be
performed by the same trusted CHP
compliance experts used for TGA
pre-approvals.
AdCheck’s comprehensive services
will include:
• Timely and dependable
compliance checks regardless of
the ad’s consumer audience or
communication medium.
• Expert guidance and advice to
address compliance issues.
• Coaching and compliance training.
• Support and advice managing
complaints.
‘STAY HEALTHY’
MESSAGE
The Royal Australian College of
General Practitioners (RACGP)
has launched a nationwide
campaign, ‘Expert advice matters’,
to stop people from neglecting
their health concerns during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The campaign will run for 30 days
on television and social media,
explaining why now, more than
ever, people need to take care of
their health and see their GP for any
health issues. The advertisements
can be viewed online at:
youtu.be/xdv-dYMpwmQ
A website,
expertadvicematters.
com.au
, has also been set up with
straightforward, practical advice
for patients on how they arrange a
consultation with their GP by phone
or online using videoconferencing
platforms, as well as face-to-face.
The RACGP’s campaign follows
widespread reports that patients
are avoiding important medical
consultations and tests because
they fear COVID-19 and either don’t
know about or feel uncomfortable
with phone or online consultations.
RACGP President Dr Harry
Nespolon says in these difficult
times people still need to take care
of their health and wellbeing.
“It’s very concerning that some
people have potentially been
neglecting their health during this
pandemic,” he said. “The last thing
we want is a tsunami of serious
health issues and worsening
chronic conditions coming after this
virus, simply because people have
stopped taking care of themselves
or consulting their GP.”
#TheKindnessPandemic is an Australian
campaign dedicated to promoting acts
of kindness towards pharmacy staff.
Professional Pharmacists Australia says
that like many other brave Australians,
pharmacists and their staff are in
the frontline in the fight against the
COVID-19 pandemic and Australians are
showing gratitude the only way they can
these days: online.
The organisation has joined with
#TheKindnessPandemic movement
and is asking the community to share
acts of kindness on their social media
channels (tag @Professional Pharmacists
Australia and use the hashtag
#PharmacyKindness).
“Social media has proved a great way
to connect with others during social
isolation and it’s also allowing people
to support each other through this
health crisis,” Professional Pharmacists
Australia President Dr Geoff March said.
“So, we believe that the
#PharmacyKindness campaign is a great
way to raise awareness of the issues
pharmacists and their staff are going
through, provide information on how
‘BE KIND TO PHARMACY STAFF’ MOVEMENT
to interact with pharmacies and offer
suggestions for safe acts of kindness for
pharmacy staff.
“There have been incidents of poor
behaviour towards pharmacy staff with
many calls for a focus on kindness and
understanding. Pharmacists are one
of the first points of contact between
the public and the healthcare system
and, as with all the other frontline
healthcare providers, they need to
feel safe and valued as they continue
work throughout this pandemic. This is
a time for us to unite. It’s time to
spread kindness.”
“The #PharmacyKindness
campaign is a great way
to raise awareness of the
issues pharmacists and
their staff are going through,
provide information on how
to interact with pharmacies
and offer suggestions for
safe acts of kindness.”