PAGB chief executive officer Michelle Riddalls has said the government should prioritise self-care during the delivery of its 10 Year Plan.
While addressing an event, ‘Why self-care matters: a roadmap to health, growth and NHS resilience', in the House of Commons on Tuesday (16), she said, “We are delighted to host this parliamentary drop-in, shining a light on the vital role of self-care and the opportunity to support its wider adoption across the health system.
“As the Government and NHS look to continue with the delivery of the 10 Year Health Plan, now is the time to prioritise self-care and maximise its role in prevention, neighbourhood health delivery and productivity.”
The event celebrated the launch of PAGB’s new self-care roadmap and brought together parliamentarians and representatives from across the consumer healthcare sector.
It offered attendees a new interactive experience and demonstrated how the full potential of self-care can be unlocked for individuals, the NHS, and the wider economy.
The attendees were given a self-care ‘passport’ on arrival and were guided through a series of themed zones, focused on understanding, empowering and accelerating self-care.
The PAGB pointed out that self-care plays a critical role in keeping people healthy, at work, and in education.
Self-care, through the use of OTC medicines, currently supports £17 billion in productivity gains by reducing absence, while also helping to avoid unnecessary NHS prescriptions and appointments, it added.
Around 96 percent of the population is experiencing at least one self-treatable condition each year, and 43 percent experiencing more than four.
The event explored how self-care can reduce pressure on frontline services and contribute to improved productivity.
It will also offer insights into the role of education and how better health system integration and information can empower people in self-care. It showcased how the OTC sector itself contributes to the economy.
