Medicines safety and general information for consumers

Healthcare products are a part of everyday life. They include prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, complementary healthcare products and other medical products.

Over-the-counter medicines and complementary healthcare products can be purchased without prescription in a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop, and include cough/cold products, vitamins and herbals, mouthwash and sunscreen. Other medical products available in pharmacies and supermarkets include wound dressings, tampons and condoms.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is the part of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing responsible for ensuring that healthcare products available in Australia are of an acceptable standard.