New pharmacy service helps Australians to achieve better health outcomes

Half of the Australian population do not take their medication as prescribed, which has resulted in a high number of avoidable hospital admissions that are estimated to cost the economy approximately $1 million a year.

Looking to increase health outcomes for their customers, community pharmacy brand Discount Drug Stores is implementing a new, free medication management program specifically designed to assist the 41% of Australians who stop taking their medication before they’re meant to.

With medication related illnesses currently causing approximately 140,000 hospital admissions per year, Professional Services Manager at Discount Drug Stores Casey Clark states she hopes the new service will educate customers on the risks of not following prescriptions properly.

“We developed this program to better inform and advise our customers on how to best take their medication and the side effects of not following the prescription, as well as to reassure them that the medication is safe and effective when taken properly,” she said. “It’s also about helping to make the whole process of filling and refilling prescriptions easier for them so that they can achieve better health outcomes.”

The new service, which allows customers or their nominated carers to receive prescription reminders via SMS, voicemail or email, is geared towards improving their health and wellbeing by ensuring they adhere to their medication.

“The biggest reasons for medication related illnesses stems from medication mismanagement,” Ms Clark explained. “Either they forget, have difficulty understanding how to take it, don’t take it at all because they’re worried about side effects or they self-medicate instead of following their doctor and pharmacist’s advice.”

This is what Discount Drug Stores’ medication management program aims to change by providing additional information resources and consultation time with its pharmacists that promote the importance of following prescriptions properly.

“People don’t realise how significantly their health can be affected by not properly following their prescription,” Ms Clark said. “This is particularly the case for those on preventative medicines for conditions like asthma, where while they might not necessarily notice any difference from missing a dose, it actually has a long-term negative effect.”  

Ms Clark continues, stating the programme also aims to raise awareness of the many different free health services pharmacies and pharmacists can offer to customers to improve their wellbeing.

“There’s a common misconception that pharmacists just fill prescriptions,” she explained. “Pharmacies and pharmacists are a great way for Australians to gain free, highly qualified medical and health advice and we want to encourage our customers to take advantage of this.”

In addition to issuing reminders, Discount Drug Stores’ medication program also enables customers to call their local pharmacy ahead of time so that pharmacists can prepare and have their prescriptions ready in advance.

This in conjunction with the community pharmacy brand’s dose administration aids and medication review services is working to ensure customers are equipped with the knowledge required to live healthier lifestyles.

“We hope our customers take advantage of our medication management programme,” said Ms Clark. “It will ensure they have a better understanding of how to manage their health and will also make this process easier for them.”

Discount Drug Stores’ medication management programme is available to all Australians, with people also able to nominate a carer to receive script notifications for them. For more information, please visit www.discountdrugstores.com.au.

Media Enquiries: Suzanne Ross at Graymedia on 07 3250 9406, 0488 441 589 or email s.ross@graymedia.com.au.