About Your Health at Hand

For millions of Americans, OTC medicines are a trusted and affordable way to get well, stay well, and feel well. The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the association representing the makers of these medicines, developed the Your Health at Hand initiative to engage stakeholders with new research that underscores the value and solutions OTC medicines provide to American families and the healthcare community.

Through research and engagement, the initiative highlights the many benefits of OTC medicines, including:

• Access to conveniently available healthcare options 24/7 for busy families and caregivers;
• Affordability for both consumers and the healthcare system;
• Empowerment for individuals and families to meet their everyday healthcare needs; and
• Trust in safe and effective medicines.

 Value of OTC Medicine to the United States
For millions of Americans, OTC medicines are accessible, relied upon, and effective. A study, “The Value of OTC Medicine to the United States,”  released by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association in January 2012, presents the findings and conclusions of an independent study to estimate the value of OTC medicine to the United States. Overall, the availability of OTC medicines analyzed creates significant cost-savings value for the U.S. healthcare system and provides value through expanded access to treatment for the most frequent and common illnesses.

• The availability of OTC medicines creates significant value for the U.S. healthcare system – $102 billion in annual savings relative to alternatives. OTC medicines provide two key sources of avoided cost:
  • $77 billion in clinical cost savings (avoided doctor’s office visits and diagnostic testing); and
  • $25 billion in drug cost savings (lower-priced OTCs versus higher-priced prescription medicines).
• For every dollar spent on OTC medicines, the U.S. healthcare system saves $6 to 7.
• The total value of OTC medicines is captured throughout entire U.S. healthcare system:
  • $52.7 billion in value for employer sponsored health plans
  • $27.5 billion in value for government programs (Medicare and Medicaid)
  • $21.7 billion in value for self-insured and uninsured populations
• The availability of OTC medicines – off the shelf, without a prescription – provides symptomatic relief for an estimated 60 million people who otherwise would not seek treatment.
• The annual retail sales of OTC medicines to these 60 million consumers are $4 billion.
• By keeping the American workforce healthy and at work, OTC medicines offer $23 billion in potential productivity benefits from avoided doctor's office visits and time not having to be away from work for medical appointments.

By the Numbers: The Importance of OTC Medicines
To better understand and quantify the important role OTC medicines play in the U.S. healthcare system, CHPA commissioned the Your Health at Hand survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers and 500 practicing physicians, and a corresponding cost-savings study. The findings of the survey and study are clear: OTC medicines play an important role in Americans’ daily lives and in the U.S. healthcare system. Some key findings include:

• OTC medicines are a trusted first line of treatment for everyday relief and provide Americans with effective solutions to better manage their health by treating their illnesses, alleviating their pain, and adopting healthier lifestyles.
• Healthcare professionals also recognize and respect the importance of OTC medicines, with 92% of physicians agreeing OTC medicines are effective and 91% agree these medicines are safe.
• OTC medicines empower consumers to take charge of their personal health. An overwhelming majority of consumers, 89%, believe OTC medicines are an important part of their overall family healthcare.
• OTC medicines provide affordable treatment options – 86% of U.S. adults believe responsible, OTC medicine use helps lower healthcare costs for people like them.
• On average, physicians say more than 10% of office visits result from minor ailments that could be self-managed by patients. This amounts to tens of millions of unnecessary appointments each year that could be avoided.
• Consumers and taxpayers could save $5.2 billion annually if half of the unnecessary visits to physicians were avoided by more personal health management including greater use of OTC medicines.

Related links:

• "The Value of OTC Medicine to the United States," January 2012 (study)
• Key Findings: "The Value of OTC Medicine to the United States"
• Your Health at Hand-Book
• "White paper on the benefits of OTC medicines in the United States"
• Cost-Savings Study: Analysis of Health Management Options
• Your Health at Hand Survey: Perceptions of Over-the-Counter Medicine in the U.S.