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Q. What do other organisations say about self-care and self-medication?
Many healthcare organizations have made important statements on self-care and self-medication, singly or jointly with WSMI. Some selected illustrations only are given here:
The World Health Organization (WHO): "It has become widely accepted that self-medication has an important place in the healthcare system. Recognition of the responsibility of individuals for their own health and awareness that professional care for minor ailments is often unnecessary has contributed to this view. Improvements in people's general knowledge, level of education and socioeconomic status in many countries form a reasonable basis for successful self-medication." (Guidelines for the Regulatory Assessment of Medicinal Products for use in Self-Medication. 2000).
The International Federation of Pharmacists (FIP): "Nowadays people are keen to accept more personal responsibility for their health status and to obtain as much sound information as possible in order to help them make appropriate decisions in health care…Pharmacists and the manufacturers of nonprescription medicines share the common goals of providing high quality service to the public and encouraging the responsible use of medicines." (Joint Statement by The International Pharmaceutical Federation and the World Self-Medication Industry, 1999).
The International Council of Nurses (ICN): "Self-medication is a key component of self-care that is particularly significant in an era of increasing chronic illness and well-informed health care consumers. Optimising responsible self-medication is an important and underused resource for health and provides an opportunity for collaboration and consultation among consumers, nurses, pharmacists and physicians." (Joint Statement by the International Council of Nurses and the World Self-Medication Industry, 2003).
Q. What is self-care and how does it differ from responsible self-medication?
Self-care is a lifelong habit and culture. It is the action individuals take for themselves and their families to stay healthy and manage minor and chronic conditions, based on their knowledge and the information available, working in collaboration with healthcare professionals where necessary.
Self-care therefore includes many elements other than responsible self-medication, such as making healthy lifestyle choices or self-recognition, self-monitoring and self-management of symptoms or disease, either alone or in partnership with healthcare professionals or other people with the same condition.
In reality, self-care is the foundation in the pyramid of healthcare. If an average healthy person visits a doctor say 9 times in a year, with a total of 1.5 hours of discussion, the remaining 8758.5 hours of the year are self-care…
Q. What's new about self-care?
Self-care is not new. Before the 19th century, and still the case in emerging societies, self-care and self-medication with home remedies was the norm. Health systems are a modern invention.
What’s new today is our understanding of the causes of diseases and how to prevent or cure them. Self-care has a particular role to play in the prevention and management of non communicable chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.
Additionally, economic pressures with people living longer lives, today’s modern technologies - including OTC medicines-, and patients and consumers interest in health all contribute to the resurgence of self-care.
Q. What's new about self-medication?
In previous times, self-medication with home remedies was a common practice. These home remedies, often based on plant substances, may or may not have been effective. What is new today is the range of proven medicines available for self-medication, proven by the length of time they have been used, and by clinical study results.
Q. Why is self-care important?
People who undertake good self-care are likely to be healthier than those who do not. Self-care recognizes the role that citizens can and should play in their own care. It is fundamental to a patient-centered approach to healthcare delivery. Self-care is the foundation for an effective healthcare system.
Q. What do you mean by “self-care can play an important role in the prevention of chronic diseases”?
Around the world, in developing as well as developed countries, the emergence of non-communicable chronic diseases – cancer, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, etc. – is being recorded. From a projected total of 58 million of deaths from all causes worldwide in 2005, the WHO estimated that chronic diseases accounted for 35 million, which is double the number of deaths from all infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria)1.
These diseases are preventable. In the 2008-2013 action plan for the global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, the WHO states that “up to 80% of heart disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes and over a third of cancers could be prevented by eliminating shared risk factors, mainly tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol.
A major challenge in health regulation is therefore to empower people to take better care of themselves through self-care.
1Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment: WHO global report. 2005 WHO Geneva.
Q. What is WSMI and what does it do?
WSMI is a network of independent country associations and companies (see the 'Useful Links' section for details) dedicated to conveying the social and economic value of responsible self-medication to health professionals, health authorities, consumers and others. WSMI has a coordinating office and secretariat based in Ferney-Voltaire France, just across the border from Geneva. WSMI was established in 1970 and for over 40 years has pursued the explicit vision:
"To create and maintain an international environment, intended to improve the opportunities for people to manage their own health through the responsible use of safe and effective self-care products."
Details of WSMI's structure, vision, mission and activities are described in the 'About WSMI' section.
Q. Can anyone join WSMI?
No. Membership of WSMI is only available to country Trade Associations representing the interests of the self-medication industry, and to Companies researching and manufacturing products for self-medication. WSMI operates under an explicit set of 'Articles of Association' and members are required to agree to a set of conditions and standards.
However WSMI does work with other healthcare organisations in support of mutual objectives of improving healthcare around the world (see 'Working with others'). If you or your organisation is seeking collaboration or support, and shares our objectives, please contact us on admin@wsmi.org.
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