SR5, As Adopted by Senate, January 26, 2017

            Senators Schuitmaker, Booher, Hansen, Knollenberg, Nofs, O'Brien, Proos, Schmidt and Zorn offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 5. 

            A Resolution Recognizing February 2017, as Self Care Month.

            Whereas, Self-care is a lifelong daily habit of healthy lifestyle choices, good hygiene practices, prevention of infection and illness, avoiding unhealthy choices, monitoring for signs and symptoms of changes in health, knowing when to consult a healthcare practionar and knowing when it is appropriate to self-treat conditions; and

            Whereas, The United States Food and Drug Administration deems over-the-counter (OTC) 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, OTC medicines are either developed as new nonprescription medicines or switched from existing prescription medicines; and

            Whereas, OTC nonprescription medicines are self-care products that consumers purchase in pharmacies, supermarkets, retail stores and online; and

            Whereas, Every dollar spent on OTC medicines saves the United States healthcare system $6-7 dollars each year, totaling $102 billion in annual savings; and

            Whereas, Nonprescription medicines help to ease the burden on healthcare practionars, eliminating unnecessary medical examinations that could be avoided with appropriate self-care;

            Whereas, Michigan benefits when its citizens practice appropriate self-care; do not unnecessarily visit healthcare practitionars and are empowered by higher self-esteem, improved health, and reduced use of health care services; and

            Whereas, Michigan encourages its citizens to take advantage of the potential self-care to improve personal and public health, save personal and public treasury, and strengthen the sustainability of the Michigan health care system; and

            Whereas, Achieving the potential self-care is a shared opportunity for consumers, healthcare practitionars, policymakers, and regulators; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we recognize the importance of improving awareness of self-care and the value it represents to the citizens of Michigan; acknowledge that OTC medicines can greatly improve and reduce costs to the public health system; and encourage consumers, health care practitionars, policymakers, and regulators to communicate the benefits of self-care; and be it further

            Resolved, That we recognize February 2017, as Self-Care Month.