Rotorua pharmacists hail pseudoephidrine ban in war on P

Rotorua's ban on the sale of medicines containing pseudoephedrine is being hailed as a huge success -- even though the Government has decided it is not a good idea.

The city's pharmacists and doctors say they have not had a single visit from anyone who appeared to be wanting ingredients for the drug pure methamphetamine, or P, since the ban came into effect on Christmas Eve.

Pseudoephedrine, which is contained in many pharmacy-only cough and cold medicines, is one of the ingredients used in making P.

In the four months to December 2003, Rotorua police received reports of 118 suspect pseudoephedrine shoppers.

But pharmacy staff say since doctors and pharmacists announced the ban on prescribing and stocking medicines containing pseudoephedrine, there have been no suspicious shoppers in their stores.

Rotorua Community Pharmacy Group chairman Derek Lang said the ban meant staff no longer had to make judgments about people who wanted to buy pseudoephedrine products.

The city was one of the first centres in the country to place a complete ban on such products, prompting a Government-initiated review of its advantages and disadvantages.

Last year Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said he would consider a national ban but in February the Health Ministry advised against it.

Mr Anderton said he was advised an outright ban would do more harm in the long term than any good it might do in the immediate future.

However, Rotorua General Practice Group chairwoman Bev O'Keefe has welcomed the ban.

"Other centres could achieve the same results if they were prepared to work together for the good of the community."

Meanwhile, pharmacists say they are happy to offer advice about other ways of dealing with colds and flu.

Bay of Plenty medical officer of health Phil Shoemack has also urged people to protect themselves from influenza this winter with flu vaccines.

Influenza is one of the leading causes of preventable visits to hospital emergency departments and GPs in winter.

Between 10 and 20 per cent of New Zealanders get influenza each year and more people die from it than from any other infectious illness.

The vaccine reduces the chance of getting flu by 70 to 90 per cent.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)