23 September 2016 - Pharmacists who sell unproven ­vitamins and supplements have a conflict of interest, the doctors’ lobby has warned, saying they should not be distracted by a need to profit from other retail offerings.

The Weekend Australian ­revealed in July that the federal government’s Review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation had heard concerns that pharmacists’ professional responsibilities clashed with their role as shopkeepers.

Nielsen research last year suggested vitamins and supplements made up one fifth of total over-the-counter pharmacy sales, a figure which is said to be growing at a rate of 20 per cent a year.

According to some estimates, there are about 12,000 complementary medicine products on the market, and two thirds of Australians report using them.

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