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It took just three days from pseudoephedrine to be back on his pharmacy's shelves for owner John Burt to be burgled.
And the burglar was only interested in taking that product from his Unichem pharmacy in Motueka during the smash and grab two weeks ago.
The return of the popular cold and flu drug as an over-the-counter medicine was championed by the Act Party at last year's election and secured as part of the coalition agreement.
The product was made prescription-only back in 2011 as part of efforts to curb its use in methamphetamine production.
But with its reintroduction, there's no national monitoring of who's buying it. That, say some pharmacists, is a missed opportunity. Pharmacist John Burt speaks to Kathryn.
Photo: RNZ /Dom Thomas