Govt axes medicines advice line that helped discover new adverse events including ‘sleep driving’
Funding for the Consumer Medicines Line ends on 30 July.
The Federal Government is closing its phone service for patients to ask questions about medicines and report adverse events, suggesting that they see a GP or pharmacist instead.
The Consumer Medicines Line, also called 1300 MEDICINE, receives 900 calls a month, according to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
But its funding, about $6 million over the past three years, ends on 30 July.
Aside from seeing GPs, pharmacists or other health workers, the government is suggesting patients call the RN advice line 1800 Medicare, report adverse events to the TGA or request a home medicines review.
