In the commercial, a Helmut says: “Many years ago I had a heart attack and a stroke. Since then I have been taking a lot of medication. Thanks to my pharmacist, everyone gets along very well, I can really enjoy my life again. When it comes to my health, I play it hard for sure”. The Medical Association emphasizes that the examination for the presence of an illness or disease-related disorder and its treatment are reserved for doctors in Austria. This serves to protect patients as well as quality assurance in medical training. The doctors would take enough time for the patients and treat them as best as possible while maintaining the necessary secrecy. This type of activity cannot only be guaranteed by pharmacies due to the law, but also not in the required environment – medical studies, extensive knowledge of the patient’s history and the patient’s environment as well as compliance with data protection regulations, including with their own treatment room.
The Chamber of Pharmacists rejected the allegations: They would be completely unfounded and represent a blatant misconduct. The advertising campaign “I play it safe with my health” emphasizes the importance of pharmaceutical advice and controls in the context of drug dispensing in pharmacies. It shows how important personal care by pharmacists is for drug safety and the well-being of patients. “The campaign does not question the competence of the doctor”, it said in the statement of the Chamber of Pharmacists. As practice shows, both professions complement each other perfectly. “
The “Helmut” advertisement:
