Pharmacists will be able to increase their knowledge of the regulatory requirements that apply to complementary medicines and the advertising of therapeutic goods, through new online learning modules.
Two eLearning modules have been developed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (Guild), in partnership with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
PSA President Dr Chris Freeman said the two online modules would support pharmacists in understanding the legislation and the prerequisites for advertising therapeutic goods.
“We are pleased to partner with the TGA and the Guild to produce these modules. I encourage pharmacists, at a time when social media and advertising is so predominant in today’s society, to stay up-to-date on how medicines are regulated in Australia and the rules and requirements for advertising”.
Both modules are available to all pharmacists on the PSA and Pharmacy Guild of Australia websites.
TGA: Complementary medicines regulation
In Australia, therapeutic goods are regulated under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act). Unless exempt, all products presented as therapeutic goods must be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before being imported into, supplied in, or exported from Australia.
The module TGA: Complementary medicines regulation will allow pharmacists to understand:
1. The difference between listed and registered medicines
2. The difference between listed and assessed listed medicines
3. What the TGA assessed claim/symbol means
4. How to read a medicine label and determine if the medicine is registered, listed or assessed listed.
TGA: Complementary medicines regulation has been accredited for 1 hour of Group 1 CPD (or 1 CPD credits), suitable for inclusion in an individual pharmacist’s CPD plan, which can be converted to 1 hour of Group 2 CPD (or 2 CPD credits) upon successful completion of relevant assessment activities (CONL19038). © Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Ltd. I 2
Advertising therapeutic goods: A guide for pharmacists
In order to protect consumers, therapeutic goods are subject to special advertising requirements beyond those required for everyday consumer goods. The new module will allow pharmacists to increase their awareness of the rules which apply to advertising therapeutic goods.
The module, Advertising therapeutic goods: A guide for pharmacists, provides information on:
1. Therapeutic goods advertising requirements, including the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code (No.2) 2018 (the Code)
2. Information about the Code, including an overview of recent changes
3. Location of resources available to pharmacists regarding advertising
4. Pharmacy responsibilities in advertising with their own or supplied advertising
5. Possible consequences of not complying with the advertising requirements.
Advertising therapeutic goods: A guide for pharmacists has been accredited for 1.25 hours of Group 1 CPD (or 1.25 CPD credits), suitable for inclusion in an individual pharmacist’s CPD plan, which can be converted to 1.25 hours of Group 2 CPD (or 2.5 CPD credits) upon successful completion of relevant assessment activities (G2019031).
