An evaluation of the contribution of pharmacy
sales data for purposes of public health
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Abstract
The contribution of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines sales data from
pharmacies for public health (PH) has previously attracted interest in the UK.
In this study, data for several OTC medicines were utilised to explore their
contribution to (a) understand the impact of medicine reclassification or
increased regulation on supply and (b) the surveillance of infectious diseases in
the community in Wales.
Following the reclassification of ophthalmic chloramphenicol (June 2005) an
increase in primary care supply (OTC + prescription) of 54% (47,026 units) in
eye drops and 29% (15,657 units) in eye ointment were observed (2004 to
2010). Despite this increase the items of eye drops prescribed were similar 12
months before and five years after the reclassification. The impact of
regulatory changes concerning the non-prescription sale of opioid-containing
analgesics was studied. In the 12 months following September 2009 legislative
changes there was a significant fall in sales of codeine- and dihydrocodeinecontaining
solid oral dosage forms (p<0.05). Similarly, following the pack size
restriction of non-prescription pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products (April
2008), significant (p<0.05) year-on-year reductions in the total weight of
pseudoephedrine sold were observed. Sales of non-prescription ophthalmic
chloramphenicol were monitored on a small area basis in two areas with known
outbreaks of infective conjunctivitis. In both areas sales data did not
demonstrate the required sensitivity. When monitoring seasonal influenza,
significant positive correlations were observed between cough/cold/flu
medicines sales and indicators of influenza activity in Wales.
In alignment with the professional standards for PH practice for pharmacy
produced by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the work undertaken
demonstrated a number of potential uses of medicines sales data for PH.
Routine data collection, particularly if captured at time/point of sale, would
further enhance its usefulness in detecting and tracking PH incidents