ENROLLED
2017 First Extraordinary Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 7
BY REPRESENTATIVE MORENO
A RESOLUTION
To recognize February 2017 as Self-Care Month in Louisiana.
WHEREAS, self-care is a lifelong daily habit of healthy lifestyle choices, good
hygiene practices, prevention of infection and illness, monitoring for signs and symptoms
of changes in health, knowing when to consult a healthcare practitioner, and knowing when
it is appropriate to self-treat conditions; and
WHEREAS, the United States Food and Drug Administration deems over-the-
counter medicines safe and effective for the self-care treatment of minor, acute, and chronic
health conditions and symptoms such as pain, the common cold, allergies, and other
conditions that impact large segments of the population; and
WHEREAS, over-the-counter medicines are either developed as new nonprescription
medicines or converted from prescription medicines; and
WHEREAS, nonprescription medicines are self-care products that consumers
purchase in pharmacies, supermarkets, retail stores, and online; and
WHEREAS, for each dollar spent on over-the-counter medicines, the United States
healthcare system saves between six and seven dollars, according to a report by Booz & Co.
and the Consumer Health Products Association, and this savings totals $102 billion annually;
and
WHEREAS, nonprescription medicines help to ease the burden on healthcare
practitioners, eliminating medical examinations that could be avoided with appropriate
self-care; and
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana benefits when its citizens practice appropriate
self-care, do not unnecessarily visit healthcare practitioners, and are empowered by higher
self-esteem, improved health, and reduced use of healthcare services; and
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WHEREAS, Louisiana encourages its citizens to take advantage of self-care's
potential to improve personal and public health, save personal and public treasury, and
strengthen the sustainability of Louisiana's health care system; and
WHEREAS, achieving the potential of self-care is a shared opportunity for
consumers, healthcare practitioners, policymakers, and regulators.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana House of Representatives does
hereby recognize the importance of improving awareness of self-care and the value it
represents to the citizens of Louisiana; does hereby support increased consumer
empowerment through the development of new nonprescription medicines and the
appropriate conversion of certain prescription medicines to nonprescription; does hereby
acknowledge that over-the-counter medicines can greatly improve and reduce costs to the
public health system; does hereby encourage consumers, healthcare practitioners,
policymakers, and regulators to communicate the benefits of self-care; and does hereby
recognize February 2017 as Self-Care Month in the state of Louisiana.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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