Frequently asked questions
What is the current value of the self-medication market?
The current value of the UK over-the-counter (OTC) market is £2.3 billion. The latest over-the-counter (OTC) market figures can be found on the Market figures page. Please note that PAGB does not hold market figures for specific brands.
How many packs of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are sold each year?
In 2007, people bought 976 million packs1 of OTC medicines to treat themselves, compared with 873 million prescriptions2.
What products are available over-the-counter?
Medicine Chest Online is a searchable database, listing over 1,000 branded OTC medicines and food supplements. For each product, information is given about what the product can be used to treat, the ingredients, dosage instructions and retail price. The database also includes pack shots for most products.
Where can I find information on prescription medicines?
ABPI (The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry) is the trade association representing companies engaged in research, development, manufacturing and marketing prescription medicines. The ABPI website can be found at www.abpi.org.uk
Where can I find information on medical devices/medical equipment/hospital supplies?
The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) is the industry association representing the medical technology sector in the UK. The ABHI website can be found at www.abhi.org.uk
Do you have any research on consumer use of OTC medicines?
In 2005, a national consumer survey was undertaken to research people’s experience of everyday ailments and health conditions, and how they deal with them. This was commissioned jointly by PAGB and Reader’s Digest. The summary report, entitled ‘A Picture of Health’ can be downloaded from the Research section of the website.
Details of a similar survey, the Everyday Healthcare study, completed in 1997, can also be found in this section of the website.
Do you have any information on everyday common ailments?
PAGB runs the Consumer Health Information Centre (CHIC) which is an advice service to help people understand and overcome everyday healthcare problems. The CHIC website provides information on everyday common ailments and how to treat them, along with downloadable leaflets on ailments such as colds and flu and hayfever.
How is the OTC medicines industry regulated?
In the UK, the government agency responsible for ensuring medicines and medical devices work and are acceptably safe is the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). MHRA’s responsibilities include the licensing and approval of medicines, reclassification of medicines from prescription only (POM) to pharmacy (P) and the information provided on labelling and packaging.
My enquiry isn't covered here - what should I do now?
Please call PAGB on 020 7242 8331 or email info@pagb.co.uk.
References
1. IRI
2. IMS Xponent, dispensed prescriptions 2007