In a recent AusDoc article, Dr Jon Fogarty was very critical of the selling of “pseudo-medicinal products” within pharmacies, products he said that were given a veneer of legitimacy courtesy of the contextual association with a pharmacist.

He was also concerned that a connection between the therapeutic claim on the labels of these products and clinical evidence does not exist.  

While Australian pharmacists have been urged to adopt an ethical framework when selling complementary medicines, involving access to evidence, it can be understood that they believe they are selling products approved by the TGA.

When Dr Fogarty refers to vitamins, “tonics”, “immune boosters”, products to “support the prostate”, supplements, herbal treatments for PMT, and medications to soothe irritable babies, he is essentially referring to listed medicines.