Macutec package change boosts optometry role

UPDATE

By Helen Carter
Journalist

Stiltec has stepped up its commitment to optometrists by removing its phone number from 60-dose bottles of its Macutec macular health and Lacritec dry eye supplements.

Director of Stiltec, Steven Mann, said: ‘We initially sold Macutec as an online only product direct to consumers, recommended by ophthalmologists, but after being contacted by numerous optometrists we now have a network of Australian optometrists who sell it.

‘However, over the years we have had significant feedback from optometrists about patients re-ordering the products themselves because the phone number was on the bottle.

‘Our commitment to supporting optometrists sees us removing our phone number from bottles of 60 Macutec and Lacritec capsules from this week.

‘We also don’t sell Macutec or Latritec at pharmacies or supermarkets.’

We bring you this update following the previous report on Stiltec below.

___________________________________________________________________________

Macutec issues retraction for advertising breach
Wednesday, February 21, 2018

By Rhiannon Riches
Communications Manager

Stiltec Pty Ltd, the manufacturer of Macutec, an ocular nutrition supplement that claims to support macular health, has been ordered to issue a retraction and withdraw advertising, after a complaint was upheld by the Complaints Resolution Panel.

The Panel found that Macutec’s claims were ‘unlawful, misleading, and unverified and breached the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code’.

‘In the advertisements we unlawfully made claims that the products are scientifically based on clinical trials and have benefits in relation to the serious eye disease macular degeneration. We encouraged consumers to self-diagnose and self-treat this serious disease and implied healthcare professional endorsement for the products,’ Macutec’s retraction states.

The retraction needs to be visible on Macutec’s website for 90 days, according to the Complaints Resolution Panel Determination.

Stiltec Director Steven Mann said the retraction related to claims which the company made on Facebook and Twitter, directed at an overseas market.

‘As there was a link to our Facebook and Twitter pages on our Australian website, we were found in breach of Australian regulations,’ he said.

‘This retraction in no way reflects on the quality of the product, and the product remains an excellent choice for both referrers and patients,’ Mr Mann said.

Optometry NSW/ACT Professional Services Advisor Audrey Molloy said that the company had not contacted its suppliers about the retraction, which left optometrists exposed.

‘A couple of weeks ago in private practice, a patient who had been recommended and sold Macutec later visited the website and demanded a refund and a copy of his records to be seen elsewhere,’ she said.

The full Complaints Resolution Panel Determination can be viewed here.

______________________________