INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Chronic cough is a symptom experi-enced by between 9 % and 33 % of people within the last year.1 While acute cough (defined as <3 weeks ’ duration) is most commonly associated with an up-per respiratory tract infection, chronic cough (defined as>8 weeks ’ duration) may be caused by an underlying condi-tion such as asthma, gastroesophageal re-flux disease, rhinosinus diseases (also re-ferred to as postnasal drip syndrome); ad-verse effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; and smoking.2,3 British and American guidelines currently exist for the treatment of chronic cough that in-corporate both the primary and secondary care setting.4-6 The 1978 Declaration of Alma-Ata states that primary health care is “the first level of contact of individuals, the family and community with the national health system.”7 Australian community pharmacies are well positioned to pro-vide primary health care. Pharmacy pro-fesses to be the most accessible health-care provider in Australia, with approxi-mately 5000 community pharmacies nationwide having no appointment re-quired for a consultation.8 The 1978 Declaration of Alma-Ata also states that primary health care “should be sustained by integrated, functional and mutually supportive referral systems.”7 The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia endorses this view by advising community pharmacists to refer patients to other appropriate health professionals when their medical condition so warrants.9 Pharmacy literature recommends that community phar-macy perform a primary health-care function for all cough presentations by symptomatic treatment of acute cough and provision of referral advice to patients with a chroni