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Australian Statistics

• The current value of the Australian over-the-counter (OTC) market (grocery and pharmacy combined) is $3 billion. (Source: Nielsen)
• Total Vitamins, supplements, fish oil, Glucosamine etc accounts for $766m of the total - just over 25% (Source: Nielsen)
• Grocery channel accounts for 26% of the market & pharmacy 74% (Source: Nielsen)
  
  
• 21% of GP consultations in Australia involve minor ailments; 7% are for minor ailments alone  (Source: IMS)
• 25 million patient consultations per year involve a minor ailment (Source: IMS)
• More than 14 million patients (59% of all patients) are given a prescription for a minor ailment (Source: IMS)
  
  According to IMS, the 10 most common minor ailments include:
  1. acute upper respiratory tract infection (URTI);
  2. diarrhoea and gastroenteritis;
  3. viral infection;
  4. pain in joint;
  5. malaise and fatigue;
  6. dorsalgia (upper back pain);
  7. low back pain;
  8. cough;
  9. headache;
  10. constipation
  
  
• OTC medicines offer value for money: $8.66 is the weighted average price of a consumer healthcare product in grocery and $13.67 is the weighted average price of such products in pharmacy. The difference being largely because pharmacies stock larger packs and because they have some more expensive products that the TGA has scheduled as pharmacy only medicine. (Source: Nielsen)

The ingredients in OTC medicines are well established with well known safety profiles. They have often been on the market for as long as 60-100 years. OTC medicines are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to be used responsibly for Self Care and self-medication.