Two hundred pharmacies will take part in a national awareness campaign on severe persistent pain that affects more than three million Australians.
The pharmacies will join doctors and hospitals in selling badges throughout June that promote the Windows on Pain campaign and help raise funds for the Pain Management Research Institute of Australia (PMRI).
The campaign will centre on a designated awareness day on 5 June. It will also involve 30 artists creating and donating an artwork on the subject of pain that is part of a group art show of painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, installation and video works to be exhibited from 4 May until 10 June and auctioned at the Art Gallery of NSW on 12 June.
At any time, 3.2 million Australians of working age suffer from chronic pain that constricts their lives and costs the Australian economy about $34 billion annually in lost workdays and associated healthcare expenses.
"As a pain medicine specialist, I am appalled that in 2009 there are still 20 per cent of the people who consult me that I cannot help," PMRI director Professor Michael Cousins said.
If you would like to take part contact the Windows on Pain campaign office on (02) 9926 6375 or through www.windowsonpain.org.