HLS 171ES-31 ORIGINAL
2017 First Extraordinary Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 7
BY REPRESENTATIVE MORENO
SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Recognizes February 2017 as Self-Care Month in
Louisiana
1 A RESOLUTION
2To recognize February 2017 as Self-Care Month in Louisiana.
3 WHEREAS, self-care is a lifelong daily habit of healthy lifestyle choices, good
4hygiene practices, prevention of infection and illness, monitoring for signs and symptoms
5of changes in health, knowing when to consult a healthcare practitioner, and knowing when
6it is appropriate to self-treat conditions; and
7 WHEREAS, the United States Food and Drug Administration deems over-the-
8counter medicines safe and effective for the self-care treatment of minor, acute, and chronic
9health conditions and symptoms such as pain, the common cold, allergies, and other
10conditions that impact large segments of the population; and
11 WHEREAS, over-the-counter medicines are either developed as new nonprescription
12medicines or converted from prescription medicines; and
13 WHEREAS, nonprescription medicines are self-care products that consumers
14purchase in pharmacies, supermarkets, retail stores, and online; and
15 WHEREAS, for each dollar spent on over-the-counter medicines, the United States
16healthcare system saves between six and seven dollars, according to a report by Booz & Co.
17and the Consumer Health Products Association, and this savings totals $102 billion annually;
18and
19 WHEREAS, nonprescription medicines help to ease the burden on healthcare
20practitioners, eliminating medical examinations that could be avoided with appropriate
21self-care; and
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HR NO. 7
1 WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana benefits when its citizens practice appropriate
2self-care, do not unnecessarily visit healthcare practitioners, and are empowered by higher
3self-esteem, improved health, and reduced use of healthcare services; and
4 WHEREAS, Louisiana encourages its citizens to take advantage of self-care's
5potential to improve personal and public health, save personal and public treasury, and
6strengthen the sustainability of Louisiana's health care system; and
7 WHEREAS, achieving the potential of self-care is a shared opportunity for
8consumers, healthcare practitioners, policymakers, and regulators.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana House of Representatives does
10hereby recognize the importance of improving awareness of self-care and the value it
11represents to the citizens of Louisiana; does hereby support increased consumer
12empowerment through the development of new nonprescription medicines and the
13appropriate conversion of certain prescription medicines to nonprescription; does hereby
14acknowledge that over-the-counter medicines can greatly improve and reduce costs to the
15public health system; does hereby encourage consumers, healthcare practitioners,
16policymakers, and regulators to communicate the benefits of self-care; and does hereby
17recognize February 2017 as Self-Care Month in the state of Louisiana.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 7 Original 2017 First Extraordinary Session Moreno
Recognizes Feb. 2017 as Self-Care Month in La.
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