PAGB, the consumer healthcare association ads

This Self-Care Week is a great time to remind everyone that self-care doesn’t have to be practised in isolation – it can also involve support and advice from others, such as expert pharmacy teams. I’ve worked with PAGB, the consumer healthcare association to share a new blog post all about the essential role that pharmacists play in the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan and commitment to improve self-care support for patients. In this blog, we explore how expanding healthcare and access to self-care advice and treatments in the community can help patients to be more active in managing their own health. Here we look at the lessons learned from Pharmacy First and how we can integrate pharmacies further into NHS digital systems, to improve self-care access, reduce NHS workload, and enhance patient confidence. Read the full blog below or on PAGB’s website: www.pagb.co.uk.

We’re delighted to share Mike Knowland's blog post on one of the most scalable and tangible shifts the Government is looking to deliver to reform healthcare in the next 10 years – digital reform for the NHS. In the latest of our series of blog posts this National Self-Care Week, Mike shares how OTC brands stand ready to support the Government’s commitments to implement a self-care offer across NHS digital platforms, sharing the recommendations that PAGB are championing to deliver this reform. And it’s not about reinventing the wheel! Read more about the role that trusted OTC brands can play in reshaping the digital landscape below or on PAGB’s website: www.pagb.co.uk #SelfCareWeek #Digital #OTC

Self-Care Week is a great opportunity to reflect on the progress we’ve made to secure national self-care policy - but also to look ahead to how we can widen access to self-care through its implementation without losing momentum. I’m pleased to share a new blog post I have authored on the important role that reclassification has to play in the Government’s agenda to move from sickness to prevention and reduce pressures on primary care. Through greater reclassification of over-the-counter products, we can improve access to self-care, reduce GP visits and empower patients, whilst delivering up to £1.4 billion in savings to NHS prescribing costs annually. However, this requires industry and Government collaboration to unlock current barriers to switching over-the-counter medicines, as we work together to empower individuals to self-care. Read the blog below or on PAGB, the consumer healthcare association’s website to discover how we can broaden the self-care landscape for consumers through reclassification and align with a preventative healthcare model. #selfcareweek25 #selfcareweek2025 #PAGB #reclassification #NHS10YearPlan

Yesterday PAGB joined our member Boots UK in welcoming Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency CEO, Lawrence Tallon to visit their London Piccadilly store pharmacy, where we were able to demonstrate the value of self-selection with OTC medicines and the innovation taking place across the retail sector to support this. With greater OTC use representing potential savings to the NHS of £6.4 billion, self-care has never been a more important pillar in our healthcare system in easing the burden on NHS services. Boots shared with Lawrence the importance of both P and GSL products being accessible for self-selection by consumers with the support of their Healthcare Specialists. The PAGB team were able to demonstrate how umbrella branding on shelves supports consumers with navigating to the correct products through recognition and brand awareness. We also discussed the potential benefits to widening medicines access to more categories and conditions through reclassification, and the role that the MHRA can play in facilitating novel ways of delivering this. It is estimated that if future reclassifications reduced NHS prescribing levels and spending by just 5%, it could save the NHS £1.4bn per year in prescription and appointment costs. We’d like to thank Boots and the MHRA for a highly engaging meeting and look forward to continuing the momentum moving forward.

📢 Advertising guidance reminder 📢 Have you explored PAGB’s new guidance on avoiding unhealthy lifestyle messaging in medicines advertising? Developed by PAGB’s Advertising team in response to member queries, this practical resource provides advice and examples to support the development of compliant advertising and help avoid common pitfalls. Available free to PAGB members via our website, log in to the member area to access. 🔽

In a recent interview, PAGB CEO Michelle Riddalls OBE spoke with David Ridley of HBW Insight about how PAGB secured a UK exemption from proposed EU rules that would have made OTC antimicrobials prescription-only by default. Read more about the evidence-led campaign and what it means for access to self-care medicines in the full Citeline article linked below. 🔽