CHPA stresses importance of self-care at Capitol Hill briefing

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WASHINGTON — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association celebrated the first International Self-Care Day event in the United States. ISCD was launched by the World Self-Medication Industry in China in 2011 to celebrate the importance of self-care and to encourage the public to practice responsible self-care.



The event on Capitol Hill highlights how OTC medicines empower consumers to practice self-care, which will save the U.S. healthcare system $102 billion each year, according to the association.



“There are powerful forces reshaping healthcare in the U.S. and across the globe, and they are elevating the role of OTC medicines. There’s both a consumer desire and an economic imperative to increase access to self-care options,” said CHPA President and CEO Scott Melville.



Erica Mann, WSMI chair and president of Bayer HealthCare’s Consumer Care division, said ISCD is a change to highlight the importance of making self-care a lifelong habit.



“There has never been a more urgent need to focus the world’s attention on the importance of better self-care,” Mann said. “Empowering consumers and patients to become active shapers of their health and well-being is the single most effective, common-sense way to improve health, reduce healthcare costs, and relieve the growing burden on health professionals.”



The speakers for the event will included: Scott Melville, CHPA president and CEO; Erica Mann, Bayer HealthCare chairman of WSMI; Dr. Guo, International Self-Care Foundation chairman and founder; Jim Mackey, Merck Consumer Care, SVP; CHPA chair; U.S. Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.); co-sponsor of H.R. 2835; and Steven Taylor, Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation, CEO.