Why self-care is essential
In the UK alone, seasonal viruses accounted for nearly 600,000 hospital bed-days last winter. As winter illnesses like flu, respiratory viruses and COVID-19 surge, the need for appropriate self-care becomes urgent. Early and effective preventative actions, such as pharmacist-first pathways, can help reduce the spread of infections and ease pressure on overstretched healthcare systems.
“We need to transition away from reliance on just treating people when they are sick and place much greater emphasis on keeping people well, for longer,” says Kris Licht, Reckitt CEO, in the recently published report from the Resilient Cities, Reimagining Health partnership.
“As we instinctively recognise but often struggle to prioritise in policy or in practice, good health and wellbeing begin in our homes, habits and communities. Reimagining healthcare includes supporting individuals and communities to take charge of their own wellbeing through self-care and using new technology to make care easier to reach, more efficient, and personalised.”
Empowering people with over-the-counter (OTC) solutions
With advice from a pharmacist, using OTC treatments such as Nurofen and Strepsils can support early infection control. This empowers people to manage mild symptoms at home – helping prevent unnecessary medical visits and hospitalisations. It can also reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics and help counter the problem of antibiotic resistance (ABR) – the threat of bugs becoming resistant to the drugs designed to kill them.
Building a more resilient health system that works for all
The business case is clear. Giving people access to self-care solutions protects supply chains, reduces avoidable demand spikes, and builds trust in the brands families rely on. Global signals reinforce the urgency. Japan’s early epidemic declaration and the early flu surge in the UK are clear warnings. Now is the time to act before local peaks hit.
When symptom relief and pharmacist guidance work together, the impact is transformative. It’s not just about staying well, it’s about building a more resilient healthcare system for all.
“As global healthcare companies, we have the privilege and responsibility of supporting the health of millions of people worldwide.” Kris Licht
