Wednesday, September 2, 2026

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

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Details

Lunch break symposium supported by Haleon Chair(s) Prof. Pam Kushner, Kushner Wellness Center, USA Introduction: OTC medicines are an important part of pharmacist-guided self-care and everyday pharmacy practice, supporting timely symptom relief, pharmacist-guided self-care and management of common health concerns in the community. From a One Health perspective, responsible OTC medicine use means helping people access effective self-care while reducing avoidable medicine use, waste and inappropriate disposal. Responsible use begins with treatment selection, guided by pharmacist advice and supported by patient understanding. This symposium will address the practical balance pharmacists navigate between supporting patient benefit and timely access to OTC medicines, while reducing avoidable use, waste and environmental impact. It will position pharmacists as gatekeepers of responsible OTC medicine use, supporting appropriate treatment choices before medicines are selected, used or disposed of. This moderated, case-informed panel discussion will explore how pharmacists can guide treatment choices, support informed patient decisions, encourage appropriate use and promote responsible disposal. Using examples from across OTC care, the session will bring together pharmacy practice, patient experience, access/self-care, One Health and policy perspectives, with a focus on practical, patient-centred actions for everyday pharmacy practice. Programme: Learning objectives: 1. Explain the importance of OTC medicines in supporting self-care and patient outcomes, and how this fits within a One Health approach linking human health and environmental impact. 2. Recognise the need to balance access to effective treatment, responsible OTC medicine use and environmental sustainability without compromising patient outcomes. 3. Identify practical point-of-care actions that pharmacists can take to guide treatment choices, support informed patient decisions, encourage appropriate use and promote responsible disposal. Take home messages: One Health pharmacy practice connects patient benefit with environmental stewardship: human health needs remain the priority, with sustainability considered in a practical and proportionate way. Timely access to effective self-care should be supported: along with efforts to reduce avoidable medicine use, waste and environmental impact. Responsible use starts before a medicine is used: treatment selection, pharmacist guidance and patient understanding are central to responsible OTC medicine use. Pharmacists are gatekeepers of responsible OTC medicine use: they guide treatment choices, support informed patient decisions, encourage appropriate use and promote responsible disposal. The goal is practical action in routine care: pharmacists can make responsible OTC medicine use visible and achievable through clear counselling, appropriate recommendations, patient education and simple stewardship messages.