Trade Association Update: April 2024

The PAGB, the consumer healthcare association, represents the manufacturers of branded over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, self-care medical devices and food supplements in the UK.

96% of people in the UK will experience at least one self-treatable condition annually, with self-care the quickest and most convenient way to treat many common conditions. That’s why the PAGB actively promotes self-care to empower individuals to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing.

With a general election on the horizon for 2024, the PAGB is keen to make the case for self-care as a solution that can alleviate pressure on the NHS. The healthcare association wants to empower its members to speak about self-care with a cohesive voice, staying aligned on key priorities, and to support the work of the consumer healthcare sector.

As a result, an election toolkit has been developed that its members can use to highlight specific points, as well as the wider benefits that OTCs bring to society. The toolkit can be shared in its entirety, or different sections can be pulled out to share with parliamentarians and policymakers.

The toolkit is built on research commissioned by Frontier Economics, which found that:

• 25 million GP appointments and 5 million A&E visits are from people with self-treatable conditions
• £1.7 billion could be saved annually by substituting GP and A&E appointments with OTC use
• £18 billion in annual savings are made from 164 million avoided lost workdays when people self-treat
• The OTC sector saved the NHS £6.4 billion annually and contributes £3.5 billion to the economy each year.

The case for self-care and the benefit of the consumer healthcare industry is profound. But there is so much more that can be done.

The PAGB is asking political parties to work with it to realise the potential of self-care by:

• Fully integrating pharmacy’s role in primary care
• Remaining a leader in reclassification (making more medicines available OTC)
• Recognising the OTC sector as a cornerstone of the UK life sciences sector
• Ensuring an attractive regulatory environment for the UK OTC sector.

Given the obvious benefits, not just to the consumer healthcare industry, but to consumers, as well as businesses and the economy, it is vital to continue talking about self-care. With NHS waiting lists growing it is essential that those who can self-treat, continue to do so.

Find out more about the election toolkit on the PAGB website, or to follow the association's wider work on influencing on self-care, follow the PAGB on LinkedIn.