Global Self-Care Federation

Self-Care Literacy Policy Paper

This policy brief introduces the concept of self-care literacy as a sub-domain of health literacy. Applied in the context of self-care, self-care literacy refers to the knowledge, motivation and competencies of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, and maintain health and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider. It also aims to present and promote self-care literacy as a health policy priority and to engage with stakeholders with a shared interest in health literacy.

Regulation of e-Commerce of Non-prescription Medicines

On a global level, surveys, increasing number of visits to e-pharmacy sites, and actual sales in 2020 demonstrate an increased interest in self-care, a greater willingness to ask for advice from pharmacists, and a significant growth in e-commerce non-prescription medicine sales that has continued into 2021.

Modernizing Regulation of Non-Prescription Medicines Through Increased Flexibility and Digitalisation

To ensure that non-prescription medicines continued to be available as an important option for consumers during the pandemic, regulatory authorities and the self-care industry took unprecedented actions, including increased collaboration and communication among regulatory authorities and between authorities and manufacturers.

Enhancing Supply Chains to Ensure Consumer Access to Non-prescription Medicines

The COVID-19 pandemic “exposed vulnerabilities in the production strategies and supply chains of firms just about everywhere. Temporary trade restrictions and shortages of pharmaceuticals, critical medical supplies, and other products highlighted their weaknesses.”

Charter for Environmentally Sustainable Self-Care

The Charter for Environmentally Sustainable Self-Care is the first industry-wide climate action resolution issued by the self-care sector. The resolution calls on GSCF members to make one or more pledges to climate sustainability, categorized under the three areas of focus: plastics & packaging, pharmaceuticals in the environment and CO2 footprint.

GSK Virtual Roundtable Report: Standing with Pharmacists in the Age of Self-Care

In June 2021, GSK Consumer Healthcare convened a global roundtable with pharmacists, policy experts and health consumers to discuss the role of pharmacy in the age of self-care and uncover ways in which the company could support them. This recently published report provides a summary of the discussion that took place and the key insights that were shared. It also summarizes GSK Consumer Healthcare’s response.

Self-Care Readiness Index Report

The Self-Care Readiness Index report assesses countries' self-care systems across four critical enablers, and ranks them intuitively from 1 to 4, with 4 being the most resilient self-care system. The countries studied in the first edition of the index are: Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States.

AESGP releases new Evidence Summary on the importance of self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic

The paper aims to map and highlight existing evidence around the importance of self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic

AESGP Position Paper - Paving the Way for the Digitalisation of the Self-Care Sector

This position paper on digital strategy highlights the main importance for the self-care sector regarding data, real-world data, real-world evidence, Artificial Intelligence, product and disease information, the building of the digital workforce capacity and eCommerce.

The Health-Economic Benefits of Self-Care in Europe

This reports aims to provide a fact-based overview of the current position of selfcare in Europe and its potential to take on an increasingly important role in European healthcare systems. The report has been based on research conducted by Vintura and sponsored by GSK.

Resources